LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Maryville College volleyball team closed out its 2026 season Saturday with a 3-1 loss to Covenant. Ruby Walton led the Scots' attack with 16 kills, followed by Addison Appleby with 12. Dakota Vaiese recorded 26 assists, while Megan Fairburn added 19. Defensively, Kyrah Bowles paced Maryville with 20 digs.
Maryville opened the first set with plenty of momentum, as Appleby recorded the opening point before a service error allowed Covenant to even the score. The Scots responded with a 10-0 run, highlighted by kills from Lexi Davis and Charli Grubbs and four consecutive service aces from Bowles. Despite Covenant halting the run, Maryville continued to build its advantage. Walton, Grubbs, Vaiese and Kate Eldred helped extend the lead to 21-14. A kill from Izzy Freeman brought the Scots closer to the finish, and a combination of a Freeman kill and Walton service ace helped Maryville secure the opening set, 25-19.
The second set featured a back-and-forth battle. Covenant opened the scoring, but Appleby quickly answered. A kill from Davis and back-to-back service aces gave Maryville a 4-3 advantage. However, Covenant responded with a three-point run and took control of the set. Seven different Maryville players contributed to the scoring effort, but the Scots were unable to overcome the deficit, falling 25-22.
Maryville continued to battle in the third set, using a Walton kill and a Fairburn service ace to take an early 5-4 lead. Another Walton kill pushed the Scots ahead 6-5, marking their final lead of the set. Covenant gradually built its advantage, but Maryville continued to chip away. Kills from Davis, Appleby, Aubrey Gibson and Walton, combined with several Covenant errors, helped the Scots cut the deficit to 23-18. Facing a five-point disadvantage, Maryville mounted an impressive late rally, scoring five straight points to even the set at 23-23. The run featured two kills from Walton, another from Davis and a Fairburn service ace. However, Covenant answered with a kill before a Maryville attack error ended the set, 25-23.
Covenant carried its momentum into the fourth set, opening with a 5-0 run before an Appleby kill put Maryville on the board. Gibson, Walton and Appleby continued to contribute offensively as the Scots battled back to tie the score at 9-9. Covenant responded with a six-point run to regain control, extending its advantage to 17-10. Maryville continued to find points from multiple players down the stretch, but Covenant ultimately closed out the set, 25-17, to secure the match.
With the conclusion of the 2026 season, Maryville will say goodbye to seniors Dakota Vaiese and Izzy Freeman. Vaiese leaves an impressive mark on the program, finishing her career with 2,137 assists (5.11 per set), 710 digs and 198 service aces. Across her three seasons with the Scots, Freeman recorded 76 kills, 39 digs and 23 blocks.
The Scots will look ahead to the offseason as they prepare for the 2027 campaign.
