The Evergreen State College volleyball team rolled to its first victory of the 2026 season Saturday, defeating Oklahoma Panhandle State 3-1 (25-22, 12-25, 25-22, 25-16) on the second day of the Friends Invitational in Wichita, Kansas.
After going 0-2 on the first day Friday, the Geoducks were firing on all cylinders against the Aggies Saturday morning, but they couldn’t maintain their success in the invite finale in the afternoon against MidAmerica Nazarene and lost in three sets (23-25, 17-25, 17-25).
Evergreen (1-3) struggled briefly out of the gate in the first set against OPSU and trailed 13-8, and after the Geoducks clawed back to tie the set at 15-15, the Aggies pulled in front again 21-18. The Geoducks closed the first set with a 7-1 run, highlighted by an Annalise Orlowski block, a Jaci Yamada service ace, and a Zosia Formella kill.
The second set was all Aggies, who led early 9-2 and fended off the responding 4-0 run by Evergreen with a 16-6 finish to win 25-12.
After falling behind by six in the third set, Evergreen, led by Sophia Scroggins’ three consecutive aces, surged ahead to prevail 25-22. Once again, the Geoducks came from behind in the fourth set but managed to do so faster this time. Evergreen trailed 9-3 early and then led 11-10 before cruising to a 25-16 match-sealing win.
Orlowski, a freshman, shined for the second straight day, tallying 12 kills, four aces and a pair of blocks in the victory. Scroggins added 10 kills, 13 digs and five aces, while Formella recorded 10 kills.
Against MidAmerica Nazarene, Evergreen came ready to play in the first set, one that saw no lead bigger than two points. But the entertaining stanza concluded with the Pioneers winning 25-23 despite multiple late leads by the Geoducks.
In both the second and third sets, the Geoducks were within striking distance but couldn’t answer MNU’s late rallies.
Scroggins added to her strong day with nine kills, and Formella recorded eight.
Evergreen will return home for an exhibition match Friday, Aug. 28 against the University of Puget Sound at 7 p.m.
