University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
1-3,0-0Big East
Coastal Carolina
1-2,0-0Sun Belt
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Carolina | 25 | 22 | 19 | 25 | 15 | 2 |
| UConn | 20 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 17 | 3 |
Huskies Rally for Five-Set Victory Over Coastal Carolina
9/4/2026 3:20:00โฏPM | Women's Volleyball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UConn volleyball battled through five sets to earn its first win of the 2026 season, defeating Coastal Carolina, 3-2, on day one of the Dolphin Volleyball Classic.
The Huskies stayed level through much of the opening stretch, answering Coastal Carolina points with kills from Sydney Borowy, Helena Einarsdottir and Audrey Jensen as the set reached 7-7. Olivia Grenadier's kill and an Isabella Sohl ace brought UConn within three at 13-10, and the Huskies continued to respond with kills from Einarsdottir and Courtney Grayson. Down 23-17, UConn rallied with a kill from Sohl, a Coastal Carolina attack error and another Sohl ace to cut the deficit to 23-20. The Chanticleers, however, closed out the opening frame, 25-20.
UConn took control late in the second set, turning a 19-17 deficit into a 24-20 lead, including four straight points on Maggie Carley's serve. Earlier, kills from Helena Einarsdottir and Courtney Grayson helped the Huskies build a 14-11 advantage, with Grayson recording back-to-back kills before Einarsdottir added a service ace. Kills from Maja Daca and Grace Maria helped UConn even the score at 19-19 and again at 20-20. Carley's late serving run featured a Grayson kill, a service ace and back-to-back kills from Maria. After the Chanticleers trimmed the deficit, Daca closed out the set with a kill from Isabella Sohl as UConn evened the match with a 25-22 victory.
UConn scored the first two points of the third set on Coastal Carolina attack errors, including a block by Einarsdottir and Grayson, but the Chanticleers moved ahead 7-5 on a pair of kills. Hazuna Akishige answered with consecutive service aces to put the Huskies in front 8-7, and after Coastal Carolina tied the set at 8-8, kills by Daca, Einarsdottir and Grenadier helped UConn take a 12-8 lead. The Chanticleers cut the margin to 17-15, but the Huskies maintained their advantage behind kills from Daca and Jensen to lead 21-19 late. Daca added a kill and the set-ending ace around a Coastal Carolina attack error and an Einarsdottir kill as UConn scored the final four points to take the set, 25-19.
The Huskies jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth set behind kills from Maria, Einarsdottir and Grayson. UConn extended its advantage to 11-6 during a Daca serving stretch that included an ace and a block by Einarsdottir and Grenadier. Coastal Carolina battled back to even the score at 15-15. After the Chanticleers moved ahead 18-17, Daca answered with a kill to knot the set, and the Huskies took four of the next five points, highlighted by two Einarsdottir kills, to lead 22-19. Coastal Carolina rallied again to make it 22-22 before a service error gave UConn a 23-22 edge. The Chanticleers, however, scored the final three points to take the set, 25-23, and force a decisive fifth set.
Coastal Carolina opened the fifth set with an 8-3 lead, but UConn cut the deficit to 8-6 behind a Chanticleer service error, an attack error and a kill from Daca. After Coastal Carolina pushed back ahead 11-7, the Huskies rallied to even the set at 12-12 with a Courtney Grayson kill, two blocks involving Grayson and Daca, a Daca kill and a service ace. Sydney Borowy added three kills to help UConn tie the set again at 15-15. Daca converted on match point from Akishige to complete the comeback and seal the fifth set, 17-15.
Freshman setter Isabella Sohl reached a milestone in the victory, recording her 100th assist of the season. Sohl finished with 34 assists, along with 10 digs and two service aces, and now has 110 assists on the season.
Daca and Einarsdottir led the Huskies with 12 kills apiece, followed by Grayson with 10. Grayson led UConn at the net with six blocks, while Akishige paced the Huskies with 18 digs.
