Auburn University at Montgomery Athletics

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks volleyball team (1-0) opened the 2026 season with a thrilling five-set comeback victory over the Tusculum Pioneers (0-1) on Friday afternoon at the Union Volleyball Classic. After dropping the opening two sets, AUM rallied to win the final three and earn the 3-2 (18-25, 15-25, 26-24, 25-23, 16-14) reverse sweep victory.

COACH LINDER'S COMMENTS
"It's always hard to come back from a two set deficit. The team really leaned on each other, trusted each other, and chose to win that match. I'm super proud of the team and how they competed."

Head coach Breylee Linder had an exciting debut on the AUM sideline, leading the Warhawks to a five-set comeback victory in her first game at the helm. After falling behind 2-0, Linder watched her team respond with three straight set victories, showing the fight and composure needed to complete the comeback and open the 2026 season with a win.




HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Tusculum jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, using two service aces from Maggie Kane and a pair of kills from Karris Oller to establish control.
 
The Warhawks battled back behind kills from Addison Vinson, Skye Letson, Chelsea Daffin, and Jamya Powell, cutting the deficit to 11-16. AUM continued to chip away, getting within four at 15-19 following a Mya Lacey service ace.
 
Tusculum ultimately held off the comeback attempt, taking the opening set 25-18.

Set 2
AUM and Tusculum traded points early, with the Warhawks taking a 5-4 lead following a Jamya Powell kill. The Pioneers then built a 20-9 advantage behind an 15-5 run.
 
Tusculum finished off the set with back-to-back kills to take the second set, 25-15, and a 2-0 lead.

Set 3
The Warhawks responded in the third set, although Tusculum again grabbed an early advantage. Trailing 1-6, AUM got kills from Mya Lacey and Skye Letson before a block by Autumn Harper and Lacey followed by a DeLeon service ace pulled the Warhawks within one at 7-8.
 
AUM then took control, scoring eight of the next 10 points to build a 15-10 lead. Jamya Powell accounted for two kills during the stretch, while Harper and Powell combined for another block.
 
The Warhawks maintained a 21-15 advantage before Tusculum mounted a late comeback. The Pioneers eventually took a 24-23 lead, but AUM answered with three straight points. While AUM trailed by one, three consecutive Tusculum attack errors gave the Warhawks a 26-24 victory and kept the match alive.

Set 4
The fourth set featured four tied scores as the two teams battled for momentum. After Tusculum led 2-4, AUM scored seven of the next eight points to take a 9-5 advantage, with Lacey recording two kills and Powell adding a kill during the run.
 
Tusculum eventually brought their deficit to one point at 15-14 before the Warhawks regained control. A Powell kill put AUM ahead 17-15 before a trio of Daffin kills and antoher ace from Lacey allowed the Warhawks to extend its lead to 24-20.
 
The Pioneers rallied with three straight points to pull within 24-23, but Letson finished the set with a kill to give the orange and black a 25-23 win and force a fifth set.

Set 5
AUM came out strong in the deciding set, opening a 5-1 lead behind three kills from Daffin and a Letson block. Lacey and Daffin continued to produce offensively as the Warhawks held an 8-6 advantage.
 
Lacey then delivered a service ace and added a kill to give AUM a 10-7 lead, but Tusculum answered with three straight points before tying the set at 10-10.
 
The teams continued to trade points, with Harper recording a kill to make it 11-10 before Daffin gave AUM a 13-12 lead with another kill. Letson then put the Warhawks ahead 14-13 with a kill assisted by Kennedy.
 
Tusculum tied the set at 14-14, but Lacey answered with consecutive kills. Her second kill finished the comeback and gave AUM the 16-14 victory, securing the 3-2 season-opening win.

NOTABLES

• Led by 15 kills from Chelsea Daffin, the Warhawks finished with 56 kills and hit .196 as a team.
• Mya Lacey added 14 kills and five service aces, while Skye Letson recorded 12 kills.
• Jamya Powell contributed nine kills while hitting .412.
• Amiliaa DeLeon led all players with 40 digs.
• Kinsley Kennedy totaled 23 assists and nine digs, while Addison Vinson added 15 assists and seven digs.

 


UP NEXT
The Warhawks continue tournament action in Jackson, Tenn. with a battle with the host school Union University tonight at 8 p.m.
 

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