LEXINGTON, KY - Transylvania took on two strong non-conference opponents to close the 2026 Transy Invite at the Clive M. Beck Center on Saturday, falling to Elmhurst and Saint Benedict.
Transylvania battled Elmhurst through four sets Saturday afternoon, falling 29-27, 25-18, 27-29, 26-24. The opening set featured six ties and four lead changes as the two sides battled beyond 25 points. Transylvania recorded nine kills in the frame, but Elmhurst finished with 15 to take the opening set 29-27.
Elmhurst extended its advantage in the second, hitting .382 with 17 kills to take the set 25-18 and move ahead 2-0 in the match. Transylvania answered with its strongest offensive set of the afternoon in the third. The Pioneers recorded 15 kills while hitting .303, battling through 12 ties and four lead changes before taking the frame 29-27. The fourth set remained tight with six ties and four lead changes. Transylvania recorded 12 kills in the frame, but Elmhurst closed out the match with a 26-24 victory.
Payton Avilez led the Transylvania attack with 12 kills while hitting .321 and adding two block assists. Peyton Mast finished with 10 kills and six digs, while Cecelia Roberts added nine kills on 16 attempts with just one error for a .500 hitting percentage. Roberts also recorded two service aces and two block assists. Addison Davis directed the Pioneer offense with a match-high 31 assists while adding 11 digs, three kills and three service aces. Julia Brown led Transylvania with 12 digs and added three service aces, while Megan Helander also recorded three aces. Transylvania finished with 47 kills, 41 assists and 14 service aces while hitting .190 for the match. Elmhurst recorded 58 kills and hit .257, led by Katie Hurta with a match-high 16 kills.
Transylvania closed out Saturday's action at the Clive M. Beck Center with a three-set loss to Saint Benedict, falling 25-21, 28-26, 25-11. The Pioneers moved to 2-5 on the season, while Saint Benedict improved to 6-3. The opening set featured two ties and two lead changes. Transylvania recorded 11 kills and hit .240 in the frame, but Saint Benedict countered with 16 kills and a .343 hitting percentage to take the set 25-21.
The Pioneers battled through a tightly contested second set, recording 17 kills across 59 attempts. The two sides played through six ties and one lead change before Saint Benedict edged Transylvania 28-26 to take a 2-0 advantage in the match. Saint Benedict closed out the match in the third, taking the final set 25-11. The Bennies recorded 10 kills in the frame while holding Transylvania to five.
Payton Avilez led the Transylvania attack with a match-high 17 kills, hitting .324 on 37 attempts while adding 11 digs and a service ace. Logan Dunham and Addie Atcher each added five kills, while Cecelia Roberts finished with three kills and a team-high three service aces. Addison Davis directed the Pioneer offense with a match-high 28 assists while adding 10 digs and one kill. Soleil Sabin led Transylvania defensively with a match-high 16 digs, while Julia Brown added six digs and two service aces.
Transylvania finished with 33 kills, 31 assists, six service aces and 57 digs while hitting .104 for the match. Saint Benedict recorded 43 kills and hit .280, finishing with nine service aces and 53 digs.
Transylvania returns to action on Wednesday, September 16th, as they host Centre at 7 p.m.
Transylvania University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the HCAC. To keep up to date with all of Transylvania Athletics, check out our website at transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.
