Furman Falls to Georgia in Classic City Clash Finale

ATHENS, Ga. — Furman volleyball closed the Classic City Clash with a 3-1 loss to host Georgia on Saturday evening at Stegeman Coliseum.

The Bulldogs took the match 13-25, 25-21, 19-25, 18-25 to finish the tournament undefeated and drop Furman to 1-2 on the young season.

Despite the loss, Izzy Castelloe provided one of Furman’s strongest offensive performances of the weekend.

Castelloe finished with 18 kills on .350 hitting, one kill shy of tying her career high. Amber Watson added seven kills, while Kacie Moore finished with six.

Emily Navarro recorded her second double-double of the season with 25 assists and 13 digs. Kennedy Seekford led all players with 15 digs, while Rebekah Buchholz added two blocks.

Georgia countered with three players in double figures, led by Bianna Muoneke with 15 kills. Gigi Artiles finished with 12 kills and Marin Collins added 11. Both Muoneke and Collins recorded double-doubles, with Collins tying Ana Julia Bleeker for the team lead with 12 digs. Chloe Elarton finished with 35 assists.

Furman answers after slow start

Georgia controlled the opening set, taking advantage of a Furman offense that hit just .033.

The Bulldogs hit .348 and turned an early 3-3 tie into a 15-7 advantage after a 12-4 run.

Castelloe accounted for five of Furman’s kills in the set while hitting .333. Navarro added four assists and three digs, but Georgia continued to build its lead and finished the set with a 25-13 victory.

Furman responded immediately in the second set.

The Paladins hit .250 while limiting Georgia to a .069 hitting percentage, turning the match into a back-and-forth battle.

With the score tied 10-10, Furman created separation with a 5-1 run to take a 15-11 lead. Georgia attempted several rallies, but the Paladins maintained control and reached set point at 24-19 after a Moore kill.

The Bulldogs answered with consecutive points before Castelloe finished the set with a kill, giving Furman a 25-21 victory and tying the match at one set apiece.

Georgia takes control late

The third set featured six ties, but Georgia was able to make the plays necessary to regain control.

Furman trailed just 12-11 after another Castelloe kill and remained within two points at 18-16 following a Georgia attack error.

The Bulldogs then closed the set on a 7-3 run to win 25-19.

Furman saved one of its best offensive stretches for the fourth set, hitting .312. Castelloe, Moore, Watson and Ashley Stein accounted for all 11 of the Paladins' kills in the frame.

But Georgia established an early advantage, scoring 12 of the first 17 points.

Furman responded with an 8-3 run, cutting the deficit to 15-13 after a Georgia bad set. Stein and Buchholz then teamed up for a block to keep the Paladins within three at 19-16.

Georgia, however, closed the match by outscoring Furman 6-2, securing the 25-18 set win and the 3-1 match victory.

Furman finished the contest hitting .183 with 42 kills, 40 assists and 49 digs.

Home opener awaits

The Paladins will now turn their attention to their home opener next week when Furman hosts the Furman Invitational inside Timmons Arena from Sept. 3-5.

Furman will welcome Presbyterian, Queens (N.C.) and North Carolina A&T for the three-day event.

After facing three opponents at the Classic City Clash, Furman will have an opportunity to regroup at home and build on the early-season experience before beginning the next stretch of its schedule.