VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Grove City College women's volleyball team concluded its historic 2025 season Thursday afternoon by dropping a 25-15, 25-23, 28-26 decision to three-time defending national champion Juniata (28-5) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, hosted by Virginia Wesleyan University at TowneBank Arena. 

Grove City (20-9) rallied from a 21-17 deficit in the second set to forge a 22-22 tie. However, Juniata scored three of the final points in the set to take a 2-0 lead.

The third set then featured 17 tied and eight lead changes. Grove City surged to a 15-10 lead but Juniata rebounded to take a 17-16 lead. Grove City took a 25-24 lead on a double block by juniors Sarah Hart (Marriottsville, Md./Liberty) and Kendra Klusch (Alliance, Ohio/Homeschooled), but four Juniata kills in the subsequent rallies gave the Eagles the win.

Hart led Grove City with eight kills. Juniors Alayna Dorst (Middletown, Del./Middletown) and Lily Lagaras (Crofton, Md./Crofton) both contributed six kills. 

Junior setter Sarah Harris (Lebanon, Ohio/Mars Hill) set 14 assists and sophomore Brooke Manfull (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) contributed 10 assists. 

Hart and Klusch both had four total blocks while sophomore Lilly Pool (Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) added three blocks. Dorst and sophomore Lilly Wojtala (Copley, Ohio/Revere) each recorded seven digs. 

Juniata advances to play Christopher Newport in the second round Friday. The Captains earned a four-set win over Cortland in Thursday's opener. 

This marked Grove City's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1986. Grove City qualified for the national tournament by winning its first Presidents' Athletic Conference title in 24 years. 

The Wolverines' 2025 roster features three seniors: outside hitter Bella Costa (Newbury, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian), right side hitter Lila Stonehouse (Hatboro, Pa./Abington) and setter Brooklyn Wirebaugh (Medina, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian).