Pensacola, Fla. - The University of West Florida volleyball team went 1-1 on Friday in the SpringHill Suites Invitational at UWF Field House, knocking off Wheeling 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-13), and falling to Southwest Minnesota State 2-3 (25-23, 25-18, 9-25, 24-26, 15-12).
 
UWF opened the 2025 season in dominant fashion, sweeping Wheeling 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-13). The Argonauts controlled every facet of the match, finishing with 46 kills, eight service aces, seven blocks, 43 digs, and 44 assists.
 
Emily Breazeale powered the offense with a team-high 12 kills on 23 swings, while Aniston Cochran made an immediate impact in her UWF debut, hitting .750 with nine kills. Setter Gabi Moulton was steady as ever, dishing out 38 assists without error. At the service line, Brighton Ferguson, Maddie Mire, and Liberty McLean each chipped in two aces.
 
Defensively, UWF was just as impressive. The Argonauts surrendered only 28 total points across three sets, limiting the Cardinals to a .090 hitting percentage. McLean set the tone at the net with a team-high five blocks, while Mire anchored the back row with 18 digs.
 
The Argonauts started strong, edging out a tightly contested opening set that featured 11 ties and five lead changes. UWF then carried that momentum into the second frame, taking a 2-0 match lead with a 25-18 victory.
 
The Mustangs responded with a dominant third set and clawed their way back into the match in a 26-24 thriller in the fourth before sealing the comeback with a 15-12 decision in the final set.
 
Breazeale once again paced the offense with 16 kills, while Moulton handed out 36 assists. Cate Wright provided a spark with a team-high three service aces and added nine kills of her own.
 
West Florida will be back in action tomorrow for the final day of the SpringHill Suites Invitational. The Argos will play Northern Michigan at 10:00 a.m., and close out the weekend against Spring Hill at 3:00 p.m. Live stats will be available on GoArgos.com.
 
For more information on the UWF volleyball program, visit GoArgos.com and follow the team on social media at @uwfvolleyball (Instagram) and @UWFVolleyball (X).