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GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Furman volleyball team played its first match in Timmons Arena Thursday evening and picked up a 3-1 (19-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-23) win over the Presbyterian Blue Hose on day one of the Furman Invitational.
DINS WIN! pic.twitter.com/lxdW0VedpG
— Furman Volleyball (@FurmanVB) September 4, 2026
Furman evens its record at 2-2 overall while Presbyterian drops to 3-2 on the season.
After calling Alley Gymnasium home for over two decades, the Paladins returned to Timmons Arena on Thursday rallying back to win three straight sets after dropping the first to the Blue Hose.
https://x.com/FurmanVB/status/2095685127552602222?s=20
Furman had four players finish with 10 or more kills in the contest led by Amber Watson’s career high 13. Izzy Castelloe posted her first double-double of the season with 11 kills and 16 digs, and tied her career high of four service aces, while Ashtan Dodson contributed 11 kills and Kacie Moore 10. Emily Navarro posted her team leading third double-double of the year on 37 assists and 11 digs. Rebekah Buchholz led Furman’s defense with a career best seven blocks and Kennedy Seekford turned in a game high 21 digs.
S4 | TIMEOUT FURMAN
Presbyterian – 23
Furman – 22#FUVB— Furman Volleyball (@FurmanVB) September 3, 2026
Ashley Miller paced the Presbyterian offense with 14 kills and Courtney Williams provided nine. Anisa Dorlouis (24 assists, 16 digs) and Celimar Hoyos (10 assists, 19 digs) both collected double doubles.
S4 | TIMEOUT PRESBYTERIAN
Emily Navarro steps up with the solo BLOCK! The Paladins are on a 4-0 run and lead by one.
Presbyterian – 18
Furman – 19#FUVB pic.twitter.com/w7UqrsnGym— Furman Volleyball (@FurmanVB) September 3, 2026
The Paladins were held to just .061 hitting in the first set as the Blue Hose outscored Furman 14-8 to claim the 25-19 win. Castelloe and Moore combined for seven of the Paladins’ nine kills with Navarro recording eight assists and Seekford six digs. Furman held an early 11-10 lead after Moore’s kill when Presbyterian answered with an 11-4 run. The Paladins got to within four points, but the Blue Hose clinched the set following a Furman service error.
For the fourth straight time this season, and eighth in the last nine matches going back to last season, Izzy Castelloe has at least 10 kills in a match!#FUVB pic.twitter.com/iugxkN1j65
— Furman Volleyball (@FurmanVB) September 3, 2026
The Paladins bounced back in the second set hitting .256 as a team and tied the match after their 25-16 triumph. Castelloe, Dodson, and Watson all finished with four kills, Navarro added 12 assists, and Seekford five digs. Furman took a 9-6 lead in the early stages and kept its three-point advantage midway when Moore connected on a kill. Presbyterian would tie the set up at 15-15 when the Paladins closed out the frame outscoring the Blue Hose 10-1. Furman scored the last six points with Dodson posting two kills and an assisted block.
S3 | MEDIA TIMEOUT
Kacie Moore sends us to the break with a KILL! She has seven on .545 hitting.
Presbyterian – 13
Furman – 15#FUVB pic.twitter.com/PK1Fd1adFk— Furman Volleyball (@FurmanVB) September 3, 2026
The Paladin defense stepped up in the third set limiting Presbyterian to under .000 hitting at -.024, leading to the 25-21 victory. Moore hit .667 to go with her team best four kills while Navarro had nine assists and Castelloe and Seekford totaling six digs apiece. Furman came out of the media timeout and extended its lead to 16-13 off Castelloe’s service ace. The Blue Hose responded with a 7-2 run and took a 20-18 lead in the later stages. The Paladins would hold Presbyterian to just one point the remainder of the set. Buchholz’s only kill of the contest clinched the set for Furman.
Izzy Castelloe and Rebekah Buchholz put Furman on the board in the 3rd set!
Presbyterian – 1
Furman – 1#FUVB pic.twitter.com/UIsJuvwwTv— Furman Volleyball (@FurmanVB) September 3, 2026
The fourth set featured 11 ties and seven lead changes with the Paladins holding off the Blue Hose, 25-23, to secure the 3-1 victory. Five different players had at least one kill in the set led by Watson’s six as Furman hit .244 overall. Navarro tallied eight assists and Castelloe and Seekford both recorded four digs. Watson gave Furman a 10-7 lead with her kill and went back in front, 12-11, several plays later following a Blue Hose service error. Presbyterian would then outscore the Paladins 7-3 to go ahead 18-15. Furman bounced back with a 7-2 run of its own and led 22-20 after a kill by Watson. The Blue Hose scored the next three points, taking a 23-22 lead, but saw the Paladins reel off the final three points, capped by Dodson’s kill, to win the set and match.
Furman takes a 2-1 lead over the Blue Hose!
Castelloe – 10 kills
Navarro – 29 assists, 9 digs
Seekford – 17 digs📊 https://t.co/7eU2t0tCyB
💻 https://t.co/7eU2t0tCyB#FUVB pic.twitter.com/FeMZ2FBgLG— Furman Volleyball (@FurmanVB) September 3, 2026
Furman concluded the contest hitting .175 as a team and held a 44-43 advantage in assists and 69-67 in digs. Both teams finished with 48 kills. The Paladins finished with a season high 11 blocks.
Furman with the bounce back in set two! Paladins tie the match at 1-1.
Castelloe – 8 kills
Navarro – 20 assists
Seekford – 11 digs📊 https://t.co/7eU2t0tCyB
💻 https://t.co/7eU2t0tCyB#FUVB pic.twitter.com/rkFVnBuoAE— Furman Volleyball (@FurmanVB) September 3, 2026
Furman is back at Timmons Arena Friday evening to host Queens (N.C.) at 6 p.m. on day two of the Furman Invitational. Fans can follow the action on www.furmanpaladins.com via live stats. The match is being streamed via paid subscription on ESPN+. Updates will be posted on the Furman volleyball Twitter page (@FurmanVB).
Presbyterian takes the opening set over Furman.
Castelloe – 4 kills
Navarro – 8 assists
Seekford – 6 digs📊 https://t.co/7eU2t0tCyB
💻 https://t.co/7eU2t0tCyB#FUVB pic.twitter.com/ol63m9HTQ5— Furman Volleyball (@FurmanVB) September 3, 2026
Single-game tickets for the Furman Invitational are available at $10 with groups being able to purchase tickets at $5. A Purple Party Pack is also on sale for $21. Kids 12 years and younger receive free admission.
Credit: Furmanpaladins.com
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