GREENVILLE, Ill. - Greenville men's volleyball opened the 2026 season with a hard-fought split in a Thursday doubleheader against Spalding at H.J. Long Gymnasium, showing resilience across both matches.

How it Happened:

In the opener, Greenville battled through four competitive sets but fell to Spalding, 3–1. The Panthers responded after dropping the first set with a strong 25–21 win in set two, highlighted by balanced attacking and steady ball control.

Carson Hulsey led the offense with 10 kills, while Sam Molitor added 8 kills. John Heater V orchestrated the attack with 30 assists and anchored the defense with 18 digs.

Greenville flipped the script in the nightcap, earning its first win of the season with a convincing 3–1 victory. The Panthers set the tone early with a dominant 25–16 first set and closed strong by taking the final two sets, 25–23 and 25–18.

Tyrone Ealy delivered a standout performance with 18 kills and a .286 hitting percentage, while Cortez Christmas added six kills and six blocks. Greenville hit .218 as a team and controlled the net defensively.

The Panthers leave the doubleheader at 1–1, building momentum and confidence as the season moves forward.

Up Next:

The Panthers (1-1) host St. Mary-Woods on Tuesday for a 7:00 p.m. matchup.