Marshall, MO – Stephens College volleyball delivered a strong performance in tournament play, earning three sweeps and battling Grand View in a four-set contest. The Stars finished the weekend 3–1, highlighted by a historic victory over Central Methodist, marking the first time in program history Stephens has defeated the Eagles.

Match 1 – Stephens 3, Central Methodist 0 (25–18, 25–17, 25–23)

Stephens opened its weekend with a statement, sweeping Central Methodist for the first victory over the Eagles in program history. The Stars took command in the first set behind a 7–2 run sparked by Lena Hunziker and Makenna Bollinger, cruising to a 25–18 win.

In the second frame, Stephens leaned on its defense, limiting Central Methodist to just a .029 hitting percentage while Fernanda Izar and Amari Branch-Autman controlled the net. The Stars rolled to a 25–17 victory.

The Eagles mounted their strongest push in set three, tying the match at 22–22 before Hunziker delivered back-to-back kills and Alanis Francelino sealed the sweep with a service ace, 25–23. Hunziker led the team with 12 kills and eight digs, Branch-Autman added eight kills and two blocks, and setter Emma Whitson finished with 31 assists. Libero Jatnna Pena-Perez anchored the back row with 13 digs.

Match 2 – Stephens 3, York University 0 (25–15, 25–13, 25–19)

The Stars carried momentum into their second match, sweeping York University in convincing fashion. Stephens jumped out to a 10–3 lead in set one and never looked back, using five aces in the frame to win 25–15.

In set two, the offense fired on all cylinders. Izar was nearly unstoppable, hitting .750 in the set, while Bollinger and Branch-Autman contributed kills that pushed the lead out of reach in a 25–13 victory.

York closed within one point late in the third, but Stephens responded with a 7–2 finishing run, highlighted by Hunziker's kills and a final ace, to claim the sweep 25–19. Hunziker finished with 10 kills, 15 digs, and four aces. Izar added eight kills on .583 hitting, Whitson posted 34 assists, and Peña Perez turned in 20 digs.
 

Match 3 – Grand View 3, Stephens 1 (26–24, 24–26, 27–25, 25–19)

In their toughest battle of the weekend, Stephens went toe-to-toe with Grand View in a four-set contest. The Vikings edged the Stars in the opening set 26–24, but Stephens responded with a 26–24 win in set two, fueled by nine combined kills from Hunziker and Bollinger and a key block from Branch-Autman.

The third set proved decisive, as Stephens built a late 23–21 lead before Grand View rallied to win 27–25. The Stars continued to fight in the fourth but ultimately dropped the set 25–19.

Hunzeker and Bollinger matched each other with 19 kills apiece, while Branch-Autman added 11 on .375 hitting. Whitson set a season-high with 54 assists, Peña Perez collected 13 digs, and Stephens finished with 56 kills and eight team blocks in the effort.

Match 4 – Stephens 3, John Brown 0 (25–16, 25–19, 25–23)

The Stars closed the weekend with another sweep, defeating John Brown. Stephens controlled the first set 25–16, holding the Golden Eagles to a .000 hitting percentage while Hunziker and Izar sparked the offense.

The second set remained close until late, when Oles and Branch-Autman combined for a series of key blocks that helped the Stars finish on a 7–3 run for a 25–19 win. The third was the tightest, featuring nine ties. Down 20–18, Stephens surged ahead with a 7–3 closing stretch, capped by Hunziker's 14th kill and a final ace for the 25–23 sweep.

Hunziker led with 14 kills and four aces, while Izar and Oles both hit .556, combining for 11 kills on 18 attempts. Branch-Autman contributed seven kills and three blocks, Whitson tallied 32 assists, and Peña Perez posted 17 digs.
 

Stephens ended the weekend at 3-1, highlighted by its historic first-ever victory over Central Methodist and three total sweeps. Hunziker posted double-digit kills in all four matches, Whitson averaged nearly 40 assists per contest, and Peña Perez anchored the back row with over 15 digs per match. The Stars showed their ability to dominate with serving and defense, while also competing in tight, pressure-filled sets.