MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo volleyball team closed out the 2026 regular season in dramatic fashion Saturday afternoon, rallying from a two-set deficit to defeat Valdosta State 3-2 (24-26, 22-25, 25-22, 25-12, 17-15) inside Central State Bank Arena on Senior Day.
With the victory, Montevallo improved to 20-9 overall and finished Gulf South Conference play with a 12-6 record, while Valdosta State fell to 16-14 overall and 10-8 in conference action.
The Falcons delivered a strong defensive performance, recording 14 team blocks while holding the Blazers to a .118 hitting percentage. Montevallo finished with 57 kills, 67 digs and six service aces while hitting .199 as a team.
Ellise Hanson earned Player of the Match honors after finishing with nine kills, one solo block and five block assists for 12.5 points.
Katie Wilkerson led the Falcons offensively with 14 kills, while
Ellie Scharlow added 11 kills, 11 digs and two service aces.
Blakeley Robbins directed the offense with 42 assists and contributed six block assists.
Montevallo opened the first set with a 3-0 advantage before Valdosta State responded to take a 7-5 lead. The Falcons regained control behind an offensive push from Scharlow and Wilkerson, building a 19-12 advantage. However, the Blazers answered with a 10-1 run to take a 22-20 lead. Montevallo battled back to tie the set at 24-24, but Valdosta State scored the final two points to claim the opening frame, 26-24.
The Blazers carried their momentum into the second set, jumping out to an 11-6 advantage before extending the lead to 17-11. Montevallo continued to battle, using a late rally to cut the deficit to 23-22 behind strong defensive play and a block from
Eliza Tyrrell and
Lilly Singleton. Valdosta State answered with consecutive kills to secure the 25-22 victory and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Facing elimination, the Falcons responded in the third set. After trailing 9-7, Montevallo used a five-point run highlighted by a Scharlow service ace, a Singleton kill and back-to-back blocks from Robbins and Singleton to take a 12-9 advantage. The Falcons extended their lead to 18-12 before the Blazers rallied to tie the set at 22-22. Wilkerson delivered a crucial kill to regain the lead, and Montevallo closed the frame with three consecutive points to earn a 25-22 victory and force a fourth set.
Montevallo dominated the fourth set, using an early scoring surge to seize control. Leading 9-5, the Falcons went on a 10-0 run behind the serving of
Ava Wind, extending their advantage to 19-5. The run featured a service ace from Wind, multiple Valdosta State attack errors and kills from Singleton and Scharlow. Montevallo limited the Blazers to just five kills and a -.098 hitting percentage in the frame. Wilkerson delivered the final kill to secure a commanding 25-12 victory and send the match to a decisive fifth set.
The final set featured eight ties and six lead changes as both teams battled for the victory. Montevallo opened with a 3-0 lead behind consecutive blocks from Robbins and Singleton and a Scharlow service ace. Valdosta State responded with a six-point stretch to take a 6-4 advantage before the Falcons fought back to regain a 10-9 lead following consecutive kills from Scharlow and
Mae Mae Beatty. The teams continued trading points until the Blazers reached match point at 14-13. Wilkerson answered with a kill to tie the set at 14-14, but Valdosta State regained a 15-14 advantage. Tyrrell delivered a critical kill to tie the set at 15-15 before Beatty stepped to the service line and recorded an ace to give Montevallo a 16-15 lead. A Valdosta State attack error on the next point sealed the 17-15 victory, completing the reverse sweep and sending the Falcons into postseason play with a Senior Day win.
Wilkerson finished with a team-high 14 kills on a .275 hitting percentage, while Scharlow recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. Singleton added nine kills on a .400 hitting percentage, seven
block assists, one solo block and a service ace. Tyrrell contributed nine kills and four block assists.
Hanson led Montevallo's defensive effort at the net with six total blocks, while Robbins added six block assists to go along with her 42 assists and 11 digs. Wind anchored the back row with a match-high 22 digs, while Scharlow and Robbins each contributed 11.
The Falcons celebrated Senior Day by recognizing No. 20
Tam Nguyen for her dedication and contributions to the program. Nguyen appeared in the fourth set as Montevallo completed its comeback victory.
GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Montevallo 3, Valdosta State 2
Set Scores: 24-26, 22-25, 25-22, 25-12, 17-15
Records:
- Montevallo: 20-9 (12-6 GSC)
- Valdosta State: 16-14 (10-8 GSC)
Location: Central State Bank Arena | Montevallo, Ala.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
Player of the Match: Ellise Hanson – 9 kills, 6 total blocks, 12.5 points
GAME NOTES
- Montevallo improved to 20-9 overall and finished Gulf South Conference play with a 12-6 record.
- The Falcons completed a reverse sweep after dropping the first two sets to Valdosta State.
- Montevallo finished with 14 team blocks, compared to four for the Blazers.
- Ellise Hanson earned Player of the Match honors with nine kills, one solo block, five block assists and 12.5 points.
- Katie Wilkerson led the Falcons with 14 kills on a .275 hitting percentage.
- Ellie Scharlow recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs while adding two service aces.
- Blakeley Robbins finished with 42 assists, 11 digs and six block assists.
- Lilly Singleton contributed nine kills on a .400 hitting percentage and eight total blocks.
- Ava Wind led the defensive effort with 22 digs.
- The Falcons held Valdosta State to a -.098 hitting percentage in the fourth set.
- Montevallo hit .360 in the decisive fifth set, recording 11 kills with just two errors.
- The Falcons completed the regular-season sweep of Valdosta State after defeating the Blazers 3-1 on Oct. 9.
- Montevallo recognized senior Tam Nguyen during Saturday's Senior Day festivities.
UP NEXT
Montevallo turns its attention to the 2026 Gulf South Conference Volleyball Tournament, scheduled to begin Thursday, Nov. 12.
The Falcons enter postseason play with a 20-9 overall record and a 12-6 conference mark following back-to-back victories over Auburn Montgomery and Valdosta State to close the regular season.
