GCU Athletics

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Oct. 17, 2026) - It was quite the afternoon for Georgian Court Volleyball who eked out the closest-of-close wins while two of their own set major career milestones.

How it Happened
• It was a good hitting day for both teams as both were well about .200. Georgian Court hit .268 for the match and Bridgeport wasn't far behind at .235.
• Each team made seven service errors in four sets. Bridgeport picked up 15 aces though to the Lions nine.
• On defense, Bridgeport earned 57 digs, six more than GCU. The Lions put back six blocks to Bridgeport's four.

1st Set
• Bridgeport raced out to an early 7-2 lead in the opening set and although GCU was able to keep it close for a bit, the Purple Knights pulled away for a set one win.
• The teams traded points for a while an GCU found themselves down just three, 15-12.
• The Purple Knights extended the lead to 21-13 with a 6-1 run that doomed the Lions. UB finished off the frame with back-to-back kills.
Set 2
• Set two was a series of runs. Bridgeport started it off scoring the first three points in the frame, including a first-point service ace to make it 1-0.
• Trailing 10-5, Georgian Court answered with five straight of their own to tie the set at 10. Ava Churnesky hit three kills during the stretch.
• That was followed by four straight UB points and then four straight Lion points and once again things were tied up, this time at 14.
• Still tied at 16, Bridgeport again scored four straight and had the Lions on the ropes at 20-16.
• The Purple Knights led 22-19 when the Lions roared back with four straight with two blocks and two more Churnesky kills as GCU took their first lead, 23-22.
• A Bridgeport kill retied the set at 23, but another Churnesky kill and a Maggy Hallihan service ace meant a 25-23 Georgian Court win.
Set 3
• The third set was a similar middle and ending from set two.
• What changed was GCU getting out in front early, 5-2.
• Georgian Court led by three, 8-5, when Bridgeport scored seven straight to take a 12-8 lead of their own.
• The Lions came back to tie at 16 and took the lead back, 19-18, thanks to three straight kills, two more from Churnesky.
• The Purple Knights were primed to take a 2-1 lead, again leading 22-19, just like in set two. 
• And just like in set two, the Lions didn't give in, tying the set at 22 and 23.
• Bridgeport held set-point, 24-23, but the Lions finished the set with three straight to steal another win, 26-24.
Set 4
• The theme of the afternoon was Bridgeport's inability to hold onto leads.
• Needing a set four win to stay alive, the Purple Knights came out swinging and got up 10-3.
• The lead stayed with the Purple Knights until GCU scored six straight, five kills and an ace, to take a 19-15 lead.
• The Lions extended the lead to six, 23-17, but in this match, no lead was safe.
• Bridgeport scored five straight and got back to within one, 23-22.
• Still clinging to a one-point lead, Ana Nikolic put the finishing touches on the match with a kill and another two-point set win, 25-23.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Ava Churnesky had herself a day with 31 kills on 68 attempts. She hit just seven errors and had a .353 attack percentage.
• Ana Nikolic hit .368 with nine kills and added 12 digs.
• Maggy Hallihan passed out 39 assists with three service aces and 10 digs for a double-double.
• Carmen Rivera Colon picked up 16 digs to lead the Lions.

For the Purple Knights
• Hailey Jessen hit .271 with a team-best 20 kills and eight digs.
• Madison Mohan added 16 kills, hitting .313.
• Camdyn Cieszkiewicz passed out 24 assists and Ellison Spencer helped out with 21.

News and Notes
• Carmen Rivera Colon became the fifth Lion in the NCAA-era to surpass 1,500 career digs. 
• Ava Churnesky not only surpassed 500 career kills, but her 31 kills are a new single-game high. Not only was it Churnesky's first ever 30+ kill match it was her first time hitting 20 in a match.
• It's also Churnesky's highest hitting percentage when landing more than 12 kills in a match and just the third time she's ever hit .300 or better with 10 or more kills.
• The last Lion to hit 30 or more kills in a match was Nylene Mateo who reached 30 three times during the 2022 season, with a high of 32. 
• Georgian Court is playing their best volleyball of the season, having won four of their last five matches.
• All three GCU set wins were won by the minimum two-points. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court comes back home this Wednesday, Oct. 21 as they host Jefferson at 6 pm.