GREENVILLE, S.C. – Izzy Castelloe and
Emily Navarro both finished with double-doubles Friday evening to lift the Furman volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-9, 19-25, 25-16, 25-20) victory over the Queens (N.C.) Royals on day two of the Furman Invitational from Timmons Arena.
Furman improves to 3-2 on the year while Queens (N.C.) falls to 0-4 overall.
The senior duo of Castelloe and Navarro each recorded their second consecutive double-doubles of the Furman Invitational as the Paladins posted a season best .311 hitting mark while holding a 64-42 advantage in kills, 56-38 in assists, and 71-54 in digs. For the second straight match, Furman finished with 11 blocks.
Castelloe posted her second double-double of the tournament following a career high 23 kills on .396 hitting and 13 digs. Navarro contributed her team best fourth double-double this season on 44 assists and 19 digs.
Kacie Moore poured in a career high 14 kills on .550 hitting and matched her career best of seven blocks.
Ashtan Dodson and
Kennedy Seekford had 11 and 10 digs, respectively.
Castelloe's 23 kills are the most by a Paladin since Chandler Parker also had 23 against Chattanooga on November 12, 2024.
Callie DeSchryver and Grace Hargis each collected double-doubles to lead the Royals. DeSchryver led the team with 14 kills and totaled 10 digs. Hargis dished out 17 assists and tallied 11 digs.
The Paladins registered 16 kills on .500 hitting in the first set while holding Queens (N.C.) to a .000 clip en route to the 25-9 triumph, marking the first time Furman has held an opponent to single digits in a set since last season versus Wofford. Castelloe and
Amber Watson combined for 15 kills while Navarro had 12 assists and Seekford five digs. The Paladins started on a 6-3 run before scoring nine straight points and led 15-3 after Navarro's kill. Castelloe closed out the set with three kills over the final eight points.
The Royals bounced back in the second set with a 25-19 victory to even the match at 1-1. Furman hit .244 as a team led by Castelloe's seven kills on .316 hitting and six digs. Navarro poured in 12 assists.
The Paladins then closed out the match picking up back-to-back wins in sets three and four by scores of 25-16 and 25-20. Furman turned in a .371 hitting performance in the third set highlighted by Castelloe's five kills, and eight assists and five digs from Navarro. In the fourth set, the Paladins limited Queens (N.C.) to just .067 hitting while turning in a .222 showing. Three different players recorded four kills with Navarro compiling 12 assists and six digs.
The teams opened the third set splitting the initial 20 points when the Paladins went on a 12-4 run to break the set open and lead 22-14 on Moore's kill. A kill by Dodson and Royals attack error gave Furman the 25-16 win.
The fourth set featured nine ties and saw Queens (N.C.) start by scoring five of the first seven points. The Paladins answered with an 8-3 run and built a 10-8 advantage after a kill from
Lauren Haynes. The Royals would then take the lead back only to see Furman reel off a 10-4 run to hold a 22-17 advantage after back-to-back Queens (N.C.) attack errors. Navarro closed out the set, and match, with a kill and service ace.
The Paladins wrap up the Furman Invitational Saturday afternoon hosting North Carolina A&T at 2 p.m. Fans can follow the action on www.furmanpaladins.com via live stats. Updates will be posted on the Furman volleyball Twitter page (@FurmanVB).
Single-game tickets are available at $10 with groups being able to purchase tickets at $5. Kids 12 years and younger receive free admission.
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