ROCKFORD, IL – Beloit College kicked off the 2026-27 women's volleyball season in impressive fashion tonight, securing a hard-fought 3-1 victory (25-21, 25-20, 23-25, 25-18) over Rockford University at Seaver Gym. Behind a balanced attack and opportunistic scoring runs, the Buccaneers silenced the home crowd to move to 1-0 on the year.
The Buccaneers' offense was firing on all cylinders, led by a standout performance from freshman Madeline Holthaus (Saint Paul, MN). Holthaus was a force at the net and behind the service line, tallying a team-high 10 kills and 4 service aces while contributing 11 digs defensively.
Beloit's efficiency was bolstered by the clinical play of Daniela Perez (San Francisco, CA), who hammered home 8 kills on just 16 attempts for a stellar .500 hitting percentage. Naomi Murphy (Dubuque, Iowa) was equally effective in the middle, recording 8 kills of her own with a .333 hitting percentage.
The offense was orchestrated by the duo of Aaliyah Gerard (Aiea, HI) and Emily Ortiz (Aurora, IL), who recorded 17 and 11 assists, respectively. Ortiz also played a vital role in the back row with 7 digs and 2 aces.
While the Regents kept several sets close, Beloit's ability to string together points at critical moments proved to be the difference. With the opening set deadlocked at 10-10, Beloit ignited a crucial 5-0 run. Sparked by an Ortiz service ace and punctuated by kills from Audrey Deane (Omaha, NE) and Holthaus, the Buccaneers jumped out to a 15-10 lead. This cushion allowed them to withstand a late Rockford push and claim the set 25-21.
After dropping a close third set, Beloit left no doubt in the fourth. Trailing 4-5 early, the Buccaneers exploded for a massive 9-1 run to take a commanding 13-6 lead. The run featured a dominant service rotation from Ortiz and a sequence of kills from Selin Tufte (Clarkdale, Ariz.) and Perez that effectively took the wind out of the Regents' sails. Beloit cruised from there to an easy 25-18 finish to clinch the match.
Defensively, the Buccaneers were anchored by libero Renee Stout (Nocona, TX), who led the team with 14 digs and provided steady serve-reception throughout the four sets. Holthaus added a solo block, while Murphy and Tufte combined for a block assist to help frustrate the Rockford hitters.
With the victory, Beloit College starts the season with a 1-0 record. The Buccaneers showcased a deep roster and a resilient mentality, especially after bouncing back from a Set 3 loss to dominate the final frame.
The Bucs are back in action on the West Coast this weekend when they compete at the Whit Classic at Whitman College. They face Whitman College (4 p.m. CT) and Whitworth University (8:00 p.m.) on Friday.
