Volleyball Goes Undefeated in Opening Day of Bear Bash Invitational

CLEVELAND, Ga.- The volleyball team played three matches on Friday at the 2025 Labor Day Bear Bash Invitational. The team swept all three matches. TWU beat Brewton-Parker University, Piedmont University, and Truett McConnell University with 3-0 scores.

vs. Brewton-Parker

The Bulldogs dominated the first and third sets, using aggressive serving from Alley Hibdon, Talynn Wheeler, and Bailey Dalton to keep Brewton-Parker off balance. Amya Sutton, Savannah Jones, and Nyah Hudson fueled the attack with timely kills, while Gracelyn Jackson added multiple aces to extend runs.

Brewton-Parker battled in the second set, but TWU stayed poised in crunch time, with Ella Brannan and Jones coming through late to secure the narrow 25-23 win.

Hibdon, Hudson, and Brannan each finished with six kills in the win. Dalton led with 16 assists.

vs. Piedmont

The Bulldogs overcame an early deficit with a balanced scoring run led by Savannah Jones and Amya Sutton. Alley Hibdon set the tempo, finding multiple hitters in rhythm while Janie Merritt added a key kill to shift momentum. TWU pulled away late behind strong serving and defensive pressure to take the opener 25-19.

Piedmont kept the second set close, but Tennessee Wesleyan answered every push. Talynn Wheeler delivered a series of kills to build separation, and Ella Brannan provided a late spark off the bench. With Hibdon spreading the attack and the defense holding steady, the Bulldogs closed out the set 25-21 to go up 2-0.

Tennessee Wesleyan left no doubt in the third, racing out to a big lead on the strength of Hunter Ford's blocking and Jones' continued pressure at the net. Hibdon chipped in with an ace and a kill, while Brannan capped the sweep with a decisive putaway. The Bulldogs dominated the final frame 25-15 to seal the 3-0 win.

Brannan led the offense with 11 kills to go along with 10 kills by Hibdon. Dalton aided the offense with 18 assists. Megan Thompson had 22 digs.

vs. Truett McConnell

The Bulldogs jumped out quickly with Savannah Jones and Amya Sutton powering the offense, while Alley Hibdon added a pair of kills to extend the lead. Talynn Wheeler and Ella Brannan chipped in timely points, and TWU closed the frame on a 4–0 run to take control of the match.

Tennessee Wesleyan dominated the second set with a well-balanced attack. Hunter Ford sparked the run with back-to-back kills, and Nyah Hudson and Jones helped stretch the lead to double digits. Hibdon's setting continued to pace the offense, and Sutton sealed the frame with a kill to put TWU up 2–0.

The Bulldogs stayed sharp to finish the sweep, building an early lead behind Jones and Hudson. Hibdon and Wheeler provided late kills, while Ford delivered the final points at the net. Tennessee Wesleyan's depth and composure proved decisive as they closed the match 25–19.

Hibdon had a triple double of 11 kills, 20 assists, and 10 digs. Sutton added 10 kills.

TWU (4-3) moves on to the elimination round, where they will be the No. 1 seed. The team will face No. 8 seed Brenau University in the quarterfinals at 8:00 a.m.