GOLDEN, COLO. - On the opening day of the 2026 volleyball season, junior
Marley Middlebrooks and newcomer
Gia Lowe combined 30 kills as the Saint pushed past Colorado-Colorado Springs in its 2026 season opener Friday at the Orediggers Volleyball Classic.
Score: Flagler 3, Colorado-Colorado Springs 1 (25-22, 25-22,16-25, 25-19)
Location: Golden, Colo. (Lockridge Arena)
Records: Flagler 1-0, Colorado-Colorado Springs 0-1
OPENING VOLLEY
- Middlebrooks, a Peach Belt Conference First Team and All-America Honorable Mention last year as a sophomore, kicked off her junior season with 16 kills, while collecting 17 points, against the Mountain Lions. She also dug 12 balls and served up one ace
- Lowe added 14 kills of her own, while hitting .375. She kicked in one block and three digs
- Freshman setters Jilly Young handed out 24 assists with six digs, and one block, while Bella Law provided 18 assists, two blocks, and two kills
- Freshman Mar'ley Phillips spiked 11 kills for the Saints
- Payton Tompkins led the Mountain Lions with 15 kills
THE DIFFERENCE
- The Saints hit .163 for the match, including .200 in the fourth as they closed the door on UCCS
- They scooped up 59 digs to the Mountain Lions 51, and served up one more kill (48-47) in the contest
- Flagler trailed 17-19 in the opening set, but Lowe and Phillips combined two kills to spark a run to tie the frame at 20-20. Phillips added one more kill down the stretch to move the Saints to set point at 24-22, and a kill on the final play by Lowe helped complete Flagler's comeback
QUOTES FROM COACH
"I couldn't be more pleased with our team's performance this evening."
Jeff Reynolds said. "To start the season off with a win against the defending RMAC champions is a tremendous accomplishment for our team. I couldn't be more pleased with the way this team rose to the challenge."
"Our pins had a fantastic night, with
Marley Middlebrooks,
Mar'ley Phillips, and
Gia Lowe creating a triple threat." Reynolds said. "All three had a tremendous night, leading our offensive attack."
NOTABLE
Flagler's first win on the season is over the defending Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champions.
NEXT UP
The Saints will face Northern State at 12 p.m. (MT) at the Lockridge Arena in Golden, Colo. in the second day of the Oredigger Volleyball Classic.
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