Scots Sweep Loras to Start Volleyball Season

Monmouth's first win over Duhawks since 2006

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill (09/02/2026) — The Monmouth College volleyball team started the 2026 season with a convincing 3-0 win at Loras on Tuesday night, their first win over the Duhawks in 20 years. Monmouth rallied to win the first set 26-24 before cruising to a 25-16, 25-12 win in the next two sets.

"I'm very proud of how we came out to play tonight," said head coach Hope Sackmann. "We had some nerves early but then we got in rhythm and played together every point. This was a very good start to the season."

Newcomer Abby Viano (Braidwood, Illinois) had the first kill of the season and Bri Woodard (Monmouth, Illinois) put the Scots on top 2-1. A kill by Melina Teunis (Grand Haven, Michigan) preceded a 3-0 run by the hosts. Teunis added a block and Chloe Strachan (Reynolds, Illinois) tied the set with a kill. Blocks by Viano and Woodard put the Scots up 10-8 and after trading points, Woodard added another kill. Kaylee Celus (Annawan, Illinois) picked up her first kill of the season for a 15-12 lead. Loras scored four straight points to lead 17-16 and Monmouth called a timeout. The Duhawks pushed the lead to 24-19 before Woodard had a kill and Hughes served an ace. Another kill by Woodard tied the set at 24 and an error by Loras gave the Scots a set point. Monmouth finished off the set with seven straight points and a 26-24 win as Loras committed an error.

Loras jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set before three kills by Celus and one by woodard keyed a 6-0 run for the Scots. Zoe Nizzia (Pekin, Illinois) added an ace and kills from Woodard and Celus pushed the lead to 10-4. Strachan and Teunis shared a block and Woodard added another kill as Monmouth pushed the lead to 16-8. Loras won four points in a row before Viano picked up a kill. The Scots added another point with Kami Barth (Washington, Illinois) serving and Loras made two errors in a row. A kill by Celus made it 21-14 and the teams alternated the next four points. Celus delivered two straight aces to finish off the set at 25-16.

Brianna Carden (Pecatonica, Illinois) started the third set with her first career kill and added another one as the Scots built a 6-0 lead. Loras snagged a couple points before Woodard and Teunis had kills for a 9-5 lead. Celus and Teunis shared a block and Strachan added a point with Tyla Mattson (Monmouth, Illinois) serving. Kills by Strachan and Carden made it 13-6. Monmouth pushed the lead to 23-10 with Isa Hughes (Chicago, Illinois) serving as Viano added two blocks and a kill. Loras ended the 6-0 run and Hughes set up match point with a kill. Woodard finished off the match with her eighth kill of the night as the Scots took the third set 25-12.

Woodard led the Scots with eight kills while Celus had six. Strachan and Carden both added four kills. Hughes led the way with 17 assists while Nizzia's 12 digs led the Scots. Celus served up a team-best two aces while Nizzia and Hughes each had one. Viano and Woodard both had four blocks and Teunis had three.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Freshmen Hughes, Barth and Carden made their college debuts while Viano made her Monmouth debut after transferring from Joliet Junior College ... Celus had five kills and two aces in the second set ... Woodard hit a team-best .304 on the night After missing last season with an ACL injury, Mattson returned to the court for the first time since November, 2024 with eight digs and three assists ... Monmouth delivered nine blocks on the night and held Loras to a -.043 hitting percentage ... Loras leads the all-time series 14-4 ... They had won seven straight in the series, the last five in Dubuque ... Monmouth last beat the Duhawks in 2006 ... The Scots play in a tournament at Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington this weekend ... Monmouth faces Hendrix College at 4:30 p.m. Friday with matches on Saturday against Dubuque at 10:30 a.m. and No. 17 Hope College at 1 p.m.