TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Stillman College women's volleyball rallied for a high-scoring first set Thursday night, but fell in the 2023 season opener in three sets (28-26, 25-13, 25-20). More than 225 fans piled into Birthright Alumni Hall to support the Tigers as they opened year two of the program's return after a five-year hiatus.

Trailing 19-13 in the first set, Stillman battled on Oakwood's set point to an eventual 28-26 loss to start the season. Freshman hitter Raine Patterson delivered the Tigers' first kill of the season, attacking Stillman's third point from the left side. Patterson had three of her five total kills in the first set, while transfer Nylah Billingsley had two kills in the set. Billingsley also had three aces and two block assists. 

Aeraeonna Manuel led Stillman with a career-high 13 kills, including five in the first set. Gracie Fjeldstad led the defense with 13 digs and Katelynn Madison had eight, a career-high. 

Transfer Emily Powell had a kill and ace in her Stillman debut. 

Stillman (1-0) will play a pair of road and home scrimmages against Wallace Community College Selma over the next week before traveling to Rust College on Aug. 25 at 3 p.m.