CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- With a roster of eight returners and eight newcomers, the Shawnee State volleyball program opened its 2025 campaign at Campbellsville University where they faced off against Tennessee Wesleyan and Johnson (Tenn.).

The Bears ultimately went 1-1 on the day, defeating Tennessee Wesleyan 3-1 and falling to Johnson (Tenn.) 3-1 in a pair of nonconference matchups that were held at Powell Gymnasium in Campbellsville, Ky. Saturday afternoon -- with senior defensive specialist Ava Jenkins becoming the 13th player in the history of the Shawnee State program to eclipse 1,000 digs in the latter match to round out a competitive day for the Bears.

Game 1 — Shawnee State def. Tennessee Wesleyan 3-1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23)

After the match was tied 1-1, Shawnee State rallied in each of the final two sets to record a season opening victory. The Bears fell behind 20-16 in the third set, and 16-15 in the fourth set before ultimately rallying to get the win.

Freshman Natalie Reida led Shawnee State with nine kills in the contest, with six additional points from service aces.

Sophomore Camille Hall added eight kills and finished with a team-high .438 attack percentage. Fellow sophomore Whytney Faulkner also contributed eight kills.

Freshman Bree Hicks had seven kills in her college debut. Senior Reagan Lewis also posted seven kills and netted 11 assists.

Setter Makaela Lovely finished with 24 assists and was second on the team with 12 digs.

Senior Megan Steele led the way with her 14 digs.

Game 2 — Johnson (Tenn.) def. Shawnee State 3-2 (21-25, 22-25, 25-14, 25-20, 12-15)

In the second match of the day for the Bears, Shawnee State fell behind 2-0 to start. The Bears would rally to tie the match at 2-2, but ultimately ended up falling to Johnson (Tenn.), 3-2.

After both teams were tied at 20 apiece in the fourth set, Shawnee State reeled off five straight points to force a deciding fifth set.

The Bears tied the score at 12-12 in the final set, but Johnson scored the final three points.

Three Shawnee State players finished with double digit kill totals. Hicks registered 13, while Hall added 11 and Katelynn Boerger recorded 10.

Faulkner posted nine kills, while both Lewis and Reida had seven.

Steele again was the team leader in digs, recording 26 in the five set match. Brooke Bossert had 16, and Jenkins finished with 13.

Lewis led the squad in assists with 29, and Lovely had 24.

Jenkins eclipses 1,000 digs

Jenkins, who entered the day with 990 career digs, posted eight dives in the opening match against Tennessee Wesleyan, then hit the 1,000 dig mark by nabbing two within the first seven volleys of the opening set against Johnson -- ultimately finishing with 12 in all in the five-setter.

For her career, Jenkins now has 1,011 digs, just 23 back of Emilee Cochran -- who sits 12th all-time with 1,034.

NEXT UP

Shawnee State will play its first home game on Wednesday, August 20 against Wilberforce University at 6 p.m.

For more information on the Shawnee State volleyball program, visit https://ssubears.com/sports/womens-volleyball, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057197839907 or https://www.instagram.com/ssuvb/.