Bolivar, Mo. – The SBU women's volleyball team bounced back in dominant fashion Saturday, sweeping both Lane College and the University of Arkansas at Monticello to close out the SBU Invitational. The two victories moved the Bearcats to an impressive 7-1 overall record through the first two weekends of the season, the best start in nearly 40 years by the program.
The Bearcats started the afternoon with a commanding 3-0 victory over Lane College, taking the match 25-10, 25-14, and 25-6. SBU controlled the match from start to finish, holding Lane to just 13 kills and a -.038 hitting percentage. The Bearcats also dominated from the service line with 17 aces while surrendering none.
Gabriela Dupree led SBU with nine kills, while Hannah Jackson and Essence Gilmer each added eight. Gilmer made her presence felt from the service line with six aces while adding a team-high nine digs. Allie Hawk finished with 18 assists, eight digs and four aces, while Madison Garza added eight assists and four aces. Kailey Sexton led the Bearcats at the net with three blocks.
SBU carried the momentum into the nightcap against Arkansas-Monticello, putting together one of its strongest offensive performances of the young season. The Bearcats completed another sweep with set victories of 25-20, 25-19, and 25-14. SBU hit an impressive .388 as a team, finishing with 51 kills compared to just 29 for the Blossoms. The Bearcats hit above .340 in all three sets, including .424 in the final frame.
Dupree once again led the attack, finishing with 14 kills and three service aces. Gilmer and Hanna Klein each added nine kills as SBU received production throughout its lineup. Danika Mejico led the Bearcats with 19 assists, while Hawk added 17 assists and a team-high 13 digs. Melissa Patel contributed 12 digs, and Sexton once again led the way at the net with three blocks.
The pair of straight-set victories gave SBU a 2-0 Saturday without dropping a single set and improved the Bearcats to 7-1 on the season. Through eight matches, SBU has already recorded four straight-set victories as the Bearcats continue their strong opening stretch of the 2026 campaign.
The Bearcats will hit the road next week for the Harding Invitational, beginning Thursday, September 10 against Harding University before taking on Southern Arkansas and Union University on Friday.
