HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — August 30, 2025 — Centenary volleyball opened its 2025 campaign with a rollercoaster five-set thriller against the University of Mount St. Vincent, ultimately falling just short after a hard-fought match: 31-29, 25-20, 26-24, 25-21, 15-13.

The Cyclones looked poised for an early statement win, taking two of the first three sets in dramatic fashion. Senior captains Poppy Skjonnemand and Jennifer Thistlewaite led the way offensively, combining for 27 kills—16 from Skjonnemand and 11 from Thistlewaite—as Centenary controlled the tempo early and edged out nail-biters in the first and third sets.

The first set set the tone for the night, a back-and-forth battle that saw both teams push past regulation before Centenary finally closed it out 31-29. After dropping the second set 25-20, the Cyclones responded with another clutch finish in the third, 26-24.

But Mount St. Vincent refused to fold. The Dolphins tightened up their serve receive and found their rhythm in sets four and five, pulling away late in the fourth and fending off a Cyclone comeback in the final set to seal the match 15-13.

Defensively, freshman Rey Bennett made a standout debut for Centenary, racking up an impressive 34 digs and providing consistency in the back row throughout the match.

Despite the loss, the Cyclones leave the opener with plenty of positives and a foundation to build on. They return to action next week, Saturday September 6th in New Haven, CT,  looking to notch their first win of the season.