Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay volleyball team, which is receiving votes in the preseason national poll released by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), kicked off the 2026 campaign on Thursday, August 27 with an impressive 3-1 (27-25, 26-24, 19-25, 25-23) victory over the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks. It was the first contest of the year for both teams.
Findlay, now without the services of a pair of all-Americans in Emma White and Makenna Belcher who each graduated at the end of last year, was locked in a battle early on Thursday night in Croy Gymnasium. IUP, which made the NCAA Tournament last season and returned a trio of all-Americans to the team, took an early 6-3 lead in the opening set, but the Oilers took control in the back end of the frame, using a 4-0 run that included three consecutive aces by senior Kirsten Bomholt to take a 19-15 lead and, ultimately, the opening set.
The second set of the night was one that changed the tone of the match as IUP took control early, building a 17-11 advantage. But the Oilers did not quit, rallying to outscore the Hawks 15-7 over the remainder of the set to pull in front 2-0 in the match.
IUP outpaced Findlay in the third set, a frame during the Oilers tied but never led.
In the fourth and final set of the night, the two teams remained within three points of each other for the duration with IUP's lead of 9-6 acting as the largest of the set. Findlay pulled even multiple times towards the end of the frame, but none more important than tying it up at 23-23 after trailing 23-21 just moments earlier. An emphatic kill by senior Hannah Miller forced a timeout by IUP, but after the break, an attack error by the Hawks ended the match in Findlay's favor.
Miller led the way with 15 kills for Findlay and also tied for third on the team with six digs. Junior Stephanie Smith set a career-high with 14 kills while hitting .333 to pace the offense. She also had a trio of aces to go along with six digs.
Junior Lilly Barhorst also set a new career mark with seven kills, adding two solo blocks and two block assists while fifth year senior Lauren Foerster had six kills and four digs.
Freshman Claire Schoenberger and Bomholt each had nine digs to lead the defensive effort for Findlay. Bomholt also added four aces to go along with 17 assists. Senior Zoya Winkelfoos led the team with 19 assists.
Findlay was outhit in the match, hitting .207 to IUP's .261, but took advantage 16 service errors by the Crimson Hawks to help earn the victory.
The Oilers will officially kick of the 2026 Findlay Classic tomorrow, August 28, with an 11 am match against the California University-Pennsylvania Vulcans and a 7:30 pm match against the Davenport University Panthers.
