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Furman volleyball entered the 2026 season with expectations of competing near the top of the Southern Conference. After finishing 2025 with a 21-9 overall record and an 11-5 mark in conference play, the Paladins were picked third in the 2026 SoCon preseason coaches poll.
But the road back to that level of competition has been anything but smooth.
Through the team’s November 12 victory over Samford, Furman stood at 13-15 overall and 7-10 in conference play. That record represents a considerable drop from last season’s success and leaves the Paladins looking to find their best volleyball at the most important time of the year.
Still, the season has not been without bright spots. Furman has defeated ACC opponent Clemson, swept conference competition and shown it can compete with some of the league’s strongest teams. The challenge now is turning those flashes into consistent performances.
With the 2026 Ingles Southern Conference Volleyball Championship approaching, the Paladins have an opportunity to reset the narrative.
A Season of High Expectations, Tough Lessons and Missed Opportunities
Furman’s season began with a mixed showing at the Classic City Clash in Athens, Georgia. The Paladins opened with a five-set victory over George Washington before dropping matches against North Florida and Georgia.
The team found some rhythm during its early-season tournaments, collecting wins over Presbyterian, Queens, Stetson and Campbell. But one of the biggest statements of the nonconference schedule came September 17.
Furman traveled to Clemson and defeated the Tigers, 3-2, earning its first win over Clemson since 2016 and its first victory against an ACC opponent since 2017. Senior outside hitter Izzy Castelloe led the way with a match-high 18 kills.
That performance offered a glimpse of what the Paladins could become when their offense, defense and composure worked together.
The momentum, however, did not immediately carry into conference play.
Furman dropped both matches against Tennessee Tech to open its SoCon schedule, then experienced an inconsistent stretch that included a road loss to The Citadel and a split against Western Carolina.
There were encouraging moments, including a pair of victories over Chattanooga and a 3-0 sweep of Western Carolina. But the Paladins struggled to sustain that level of play from one match to the next.
The two-match series against Mercer in October became one of the season’s clearest examples of the team’s challenges. Furman lost the opening match, 3-1, before taking the first two sets in the rematch. Mercer responded by winning the final three sets, completing a reverse sweep with a 15-13 decision in the fifth.
It was a difficult result because Furman had put itself in position to win. The Paladins demonstrated they could control the matchup, but struggled to maintain that control when Mercer adjusted.
That pattern surfaced again against UNC Greensboro. Furman dropped a five-set decision on October 30 despite winning the first and third sets, then bounced back the following night with a 3-1 victory over the Spartans. The second match was particularly encouraging because the Paladins snapped UNCG’s eight-match winning streak.
The team’s final road series against Wofford brought another setback. Furman dropped both matches in straight sets, including a November 7 defeat in which the Paladins managed just 32 kills and hit .106.
The season’s highs show Furman’s potential. The lows reveal how much consistency it still needs.
The Players Who Can Help Furman Turn the Corner
If Furman is going to make noise in Asheville, it will need its experienced players to set the tone.
Izzy Castelloe remains an important offensive piece. The senior outside hitter has demonstrated that she can produce against quality competition, recording 18 kills in the Clemson victory and 20 kills against UNC Greensboro on October 30.
Her ability to generate offense will be important in tournament play, particularly when Furman needs a dependable option during difficult stretches. But the Paladins cannot afford to make their offense predictable by relying on one attacker to carry the load.
Kacie Moore has shown she can provide another scoring option. Moore recorded 13 kills against Mercer in October and finished with 10 kills on an impressive .529 hitting percentage in Furman’s November 12 sweep of Samford.
Lauren Haynes also gives the Paladins another contributor. Against Samford, she recorded 10 kills and 11 digs for her third double-double of the season.
In the same match, senior libero Kennedy Seekford led all players with 23 digs. Her defensive work gives Furman opportunities to extend rallies and transition into offense.
At the net, senior middle blocker Tennyson Gorman remains an important presence. She recorded five blocks against Samford, helping Furman finish with a 6.5-5 advantage in team blocks.
The combination of Castelloe’s attacking ability, Moore’s efficiency, Haynes’ versatility, Seekford’s defensive coverage and Gorman’s presence at the net gives Furman a foundation to build around.
The key is getting those contributions together in the same match.
What Furman Must Do to Become a Threat in the SoCon Tournament
The Paladins do not need to reinvent their identity before the tournament. They need to become more consistent with the things that have already produced their best performances.
1. Finish sets instead of letting opportunities disappear.
The losses to Mercer and UNC Greensboro are reminders that winning the first two sets does not guarantee a match victory.
Furman must become more disciplined late in sets, especially when opponents make adjustments. That means limiting attack errors, communicating through difficult rotations and staying composed when the other side starts building momentum.
In a single-elimination tournament, one poorly managed stretch can end a team’s season.
2. Create a more balanced offensive attack.
Castelloe is a proven scoring option, but tournament opponents will prepare to slow down Furman’s leading attackers.
Moore and Haynes need to remain involved, while the setters must continue finding opportunities for Gorman and the other available hitters. A balanced attack makes it harder for opposing defenses to commit to one player or one area of the court.
The November 12 Samford sweep offered a useful example. Haynes and Moore each recorded 10 kills, while Furman finished with 46 kills and a .238 hitting percentage.
That is the kind of collective offensive production the Paladins need to carry into Asheville.
3. Make defense the starting point, not the emergency plan.
Furman has players capable of keeping rallies alive. Seekford’s 23 digs against Samford demonstrated the value of that defensive presence.
The Paladins must turn those defensive plays into scoring opportunities. Strong passing, controlled first contacts and effective communication will give the setters more options and allow the offense to attack before opposing defenses become established.
The goal should be to make opponents work for every point while creating cleaner opportunities on the other side of the net.
4. Use the block to disrupt opposing offenses.
Gorman and Moore give Furman important options at the net. Their blocking presence can help slow down opposing attackers and create opportunities for the back row.
Against stronger SoCon teams, Furman cannot afford to let opponents attack comfortably throughout the match. Better positioning, timing and communication at the net could make a significant difference.
5. Play with urgency from the opening serve.
One of Furman’s biggest challenges this season has been sustaining its level of play. The team has shown it can respond after losing a set, but tournament volleyball leaves little room for slow starts.
The Paladins need to establish their rhythm early, serve aggressively without giving away unnecessary points and avoid spending entire sets trying to recover from early deficits.
The postseason is not the time to wait for momentum. Furman has to create it.
The SoCon Tournament: A Difficult Road, but an Opportunity
The 2026 Ingles SoCon Volleyball Championship is scheduled for November 19-22 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina.
The tournament features all 10 conference programs, with the lower seeds opening competition on Thursday, November 19. The No. 8 seed faces the No. 9 seed at 5 p.m., while the No. 7 seed meets the No. 10 seed at 7:30 p.m.
The winners advance to Friday’s quarterfinals, where the top seeds enter the competition.
In the latest published conference standings following Furman’s November 12 win, the Paladins were eighth with a 7-10 conference record. That position would put them in the opening-round matchup against the ninth seed. The November 13 regular-season finale against Samford is another important opportunity to build momentum and potentially improve the team’s standing.
Furman will have to earn its way forward, but the tournament format gives every participating team a path to the championship.
The challenge is that the Paladins could face a top-seeded opponent immediately after advancing through the opening round. That makes every match important, and it places even greater value on entering Asheville with confidence.
Wofford, which swept Furman twice in November, has established itself as one of the conference’s strongest teams. UNC Greensboro, Mercer and ETSU have also demonstrated the ability to compete at a high level.
Furman will need to be prepared for a physical, disciplined opponent regardless of its eventual draw.
The Final Opportunity: Furman Must Play Like the Team It Believes It Can Be
There is no hiding from the numbers. Furman has not matched the expectations established before the season, and its conference record reflects the difficulty of the year.
But the Paladins have also shown that they are capable of beating quality opponents, responding after disappointing performances and putting together complete matches.
The November 12 sweep of Samford was an encouraging reminder. Furman controlled the match, won all three sets and held the Bulldogs to a .164 hitting percentage. The Paladins finished with 46 kills, 43 assists and 61 digs.
That is the type of performance that can give a team confidence heading into postseason play.
The next step is proving it was not a one-night response.
Furman does not need to become the preseason No. 3 team overnight. It needs to play with the discipline, urgency and confidence that made those expectations possible in the first place.
The SoCon tournament offers a fresh opportunity, but the Paladins will have to earn every point, every set and every chance to advance.
The season has tested Furman. Now the Paladins have a chance to show what they learned from it.
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