TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Friday night, Stillman College women's volleyball produced its best Southern States Athletic Conference performance since reinstating the program in 2022 despite a three-set loss to Point University, 25-15, 25-18, 25-22. It was the first-ever meeting between the two programs, as Stillman returned home to Birthright Alumni Hall for the first time in 20 days.

The Tigers created a program-best 25 points in a SSAC match via a kill, ace or block, while scoring a program-best 55 points for a three-set match in its two-year reboot. It is the second-straight home match Stillman has set a new high for points in a SSAC match.

Stillman fell into a hole to open the match, trailing 7-0, but fought back within four points, 14-10, on a series of Point attack errors. After the Skyhawks won the first set, 25-15, they once again took an early lead, 6-1, in the second set. The Tigers pulled within a point, 6-5, on a Madison Bubel kill, but Point University used a six-point run to stretch its lead en route to a 25-18 second-set win. 

The Tigers' third set was their best performance in a Southern States Athletic Conference match for a single set since restarting the women's volleyball program in 2022. Stillman used a six-point run to overcome another 5-1 hole. Gracie Fjeldstad, who received her first start at libero, served four-straight points during the run. Raine Patterson, Michelle Threatt and Aeraeonna Manuel each had kills to keep Stillman in front. Stillman's lead was as large as 14-9 as the Tigers led until Point took the lead, 19-18, on a bad Stillman set. Stillman stayed within a point, 20-19, but the Skyhawks worked up to match point with a 24-20 lead. A Manuel kill and Skyhawks error made it a two-point match before Sameily Marquez sealed the win with her 10th kill of the night for Point University. 

Manuel led Stillman with eight kills and attacked the net with a career-high .263 hitting percentage. She also had two blocks. Patterson contributed five kills.

Katelynn Madison collected a career-high 11 digs to lead Stillman's defense and matched her career-high eight assists for the second-straight match.  

As a team, Stillman's .043 attacking percentage is its best in a SSAC match and third-best since beginning the program's rebuild.