Norfolk, Va. --- The Georgia Southern volleyball team (10-2, 1-0 SBC) defeated the Old Dominion Monarchs, 3-0, to open up conference play on Thursday evening (September 25th).

The Eagles started scorching hot, going on a 12-0 run to start their 2025 Sun Belt slate, including back-to-back Lydia Seymour blocks to start the night. Sam Bowron would have three kills for the Eagles on their streak, while Reagan Barth contributed two of her own. While the Monarchs proved to be pesky in the first set, scoring five of the last nine points, the Eagles would use a .345 attack percentage to handle ODU in set one, winning 25-10.

The Monarchs would take their first lead of the night early, but after Southern tied the set at four, they would never look back. Four early kills from Alex Myers would give the Eagles momentum to keep themselves ahead of the Monarchs, despite a 4-0 run from the opposition to cut the lead to just 14-13 midway through. Three kills by Barth in the Eagles' next five points catapulted them to stave off the conference foe for a 25-19 set two.

Once again, a 4-0 run from the Eagles gave them the early advantage, and proceeded to never look back on the night. This set, it would be Seymour leading offensively as she had four kills across the Eagles' first seven points of the final set. Along with her 40 assists, Kirsten Barrett would add in back-to-back aces to make 10-3 Eagles. After the 17-12 mark, Southern would not allow more than a two-point rally from ODU to cruise to a 25-17 set three win, securing the sweep.

"I'm proud of our team tonight for being locked in and coming on the road to grab our first conference win," said coach Chad Willis. "From set one I thought we were dialed into the game plan, did a great job of controlling our side and really pressured ODU with our offensive and defensive execution."

On the evening, the Eagles would go for an even 50 kills in their Sun Belt opener, while swinging at a .303 clip. The defense was also stellar, especially early on, as they held the Monarchs to just eight kills and five errors in the first set. Bowron led the way with her 17 kills with Myers having ten of her own, marking just the second game in her career going for double-digit kills. She would have no errors on the night, finishing with a scorching .769 percentage.

With the win, Coach Willis now surpasses 100 victories on his career. He now becomes just the third coach in program history to eclipse triple-digits, joining Kerry Messersmith and Chad Calihan.

"It's really a testament to everyone that's been a part of this program since day one," said Willis on the milestone. "I certainly am feeling grateful and blessed for the support of Eagle Nation, our community and am just unbelievably proud of our student-athletes for the way they represent us on and off the court!"

The Eagles look to start their first Sun Belt trip off right with another match against the Monarchs tomorrow evening (September 26th). First serve in Norfolk is set for 6 PM.