The Charger women's volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a split Saturday afternoon, falling 3-2 to Avila before bouncing back with a dominant 3-0 victory over Peru State inside the Newman Flanagan Center. With the split, the Cliff moves to 1-1 on the young season.
Game 1 vs. Avila – L, 3-2
BCU opened the day by taking the first set 25-18. Avila evened the match in the second, with a 25-19 set victory, the Chargers responded in the third, rallying from an early 15-11 deficit to take a 21-20 lead before closing out the set 25-22.
The Eagles answered right back in the fourth set, taking a 25-22 decision after the Chargers fought back to tie the set at 22-22. Avila then jumped ahead early in the fifth set and held off a late BCU push to secure the 15-11 victory and the match. Briar Cliff cut the final-set deficit to three at 14-11 before the Eagles closed out the contest.
Alexis Even led the Chargers with 12 kills, followed by Caton Firkins with 11, and Brooklyn Voss with 10. Landree McNair added eight kills, while Aubrey Hoeft recorded seven. Reese Strouth and Mia Torchia each recorded 24 assists, while Ireland Jackson led the defensive effort with 21 digs and Strouth added 16. Voss contributed six block assists, while Firkins added a solo block and a block assist.
Game 2 vs. Peru State – W, 3-0
Briar Cliff responded in a big way in the second match, sweeping Peru State with set scores 25-14, 25-15 and 25-14.  The Chargers jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the opening set and never looked back, eventually taking the first frame by 11 points.
The Cliff carried its momentum into the second set, opening with a 6-1 advantage before building a 16-6 lead. Briar Cliff continued to control the set and closed it out 25-15.
In the third, Peru State opened with a 2-0 lead, but the Chargers quickly took control. After taking a 12-4 lead, BCU pushed its advantage to 22-12 before finishing the sweep 25-14.
Firkins, Even and Kenzie Rubida each recorded six kills in the victory, while Hoeft added five and Voss finished with four. Strouth led the team with 12 assists, followed by Torchia's seven. Voss also recorded a team-high eight points, while the Chargers hit .382 as a team and held Peru State to a -.011 hitting percentage.
The Chargers return to action Friday, August 21, at the Siouxland Showdown taking on Mayville State at 2 p.m. and Bethel at 6 p.m.
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