Rion Goes Over 1,000 Assists in Pfeiffer's USA South Split

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 31, 2025) — Pfeiffer University split a pair of USA South matches on Friday afternoon at the Hermann Athletic Center, falling to Southern Virginia in four sets before rebounding with a gritty 3-1 victory over host William Peace.

In the nightcap, Pfeiffer (14-14, 8-8 USA South) overcame a third-set stumble to defeat William Peace (14-14, 7-9) by scores of 25-22, 27-25, 17-25, 25-21. Madison Tate led the Falcons with 13 kills and five blocks, while setter Karmen Rion dished out 23 assists and added a pair of kills.  WIth the 23 assists, Rion eclipses the 1,000 assist milestone for her career, moving her to 1,010 for her career.  Rion becomes just the 10th player in program history to acheive the 1,000 assist mark.  Defensively, Gabi Gama anchored the Falcons, as she recorded a match-high 26 digs.

The Falcons controlled the tempo early, taking the first two sets behind efficient attacking and timely serving. Pfeiffer posted a .239 hitting percentage in the opening frame and added five service aces in the fourth to seal the win. The match featured 34 ties and 11 lead changes, underscoring the back-and-forth nature of the contest.

Earlier in the day, Pfeiffer dropped a hard-fought match to Southern Virginia, 3-1 (27-29, 25-16, 25-21, 25-16). Despite a strong opening set win, the Falcons struggled offensively, hitting just .109 for the match.

Gama again paced the attack with 12 kills and 24 digs, while Tate contributed seven kills and five blocks.

Southern Virginia (19-7, 13-3 USA South) was led by Aubrey Packer's 22 kills and 12 digs. The Knights hit .237 as a team and outscored Pfeiffer 102-82 in total points.

The Falcons will close out the road portion of their regular season with a trip to Fayetteville, N.C. to take on Methodist University on Tuesday, Nov. 4.  First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.