BELOIT, Wis. – The Alverno College volleyball team swept Beloit College on Tuesday night, using a strong all-around effort to down the Buccaneers at Flood Arena. Freshman Beyonca Hereford (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial) recorded the team's first double-double of the season in her homecoming, tallying 13 assists and 18 digs.

Alverno paired a stout defensive performance with steady offensive execution, holding Beloit to just a .055 hitting percentage (32-25-128). The Inferno assisted on all 37 of their kills and held statistical advantages in nearly every category, most notably committing seven fewer attack errors than the Buccaneers.

Hereford was the catalyst, assisting on 13 kills while matching her twin sister, Brooklynne Hereford (Beloit, Wis./Beloit Memorial), for the team lead with 18 digs. Offensively, freshman Mary Needham (San Tan Valley, Ariz./Poston Butte) paced the Inferno with 12 kills, three service aces, and 15.5 points. Freshman middles Sofia Mitchell (Denver, Colo./Denver School of Science & Technology: Montview) and Leilani Curtis (Rockford, Ill./Auburn) combined for 16 kills on 35 swings with just one attack error. Mitchell added two solo blocks, while Curtis chipped in two block assists. Senior Sharisty Kooch (Terrebonne, Ore./Redmond) directed the offense with a team-high 17 assists.

The victory snapped a six-match losing streak to Beloit dating back to 2017 and improved Alverno to 3-9 on the season. The Inferno will return home Thursday, Oct. 2, to host the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action at 7 p.m. Beloit falls to 2-11 and next travels to Ripon College on Friday, Oct. 3, for Midwest Conference play.

The first set saw Alverno lead throughout, though the margin never stretched beyond five. A 9-4 Inferno advantage—sparked by kills from Curtis and Needham—was erased by a 6-0 Beloit run, but Alverno quickly regained control with three straight points. The teams traded blows until Alverno rebuilt a five-point cushion, only to see Beloit cut the deficit to 22-21. The Inferno closed strong in the opening set, with Mitchell sealing the 25-22 win on a kill.

Alverno controlled most of the second set, taking a lead early and never surrendering it. The Inferno led by as many as six before Beloit pulled even at 15, but the visitors responded with a decisive 10-4 run to close the set. Once again, Mitchell delivered the clinching kill for a 25-19 win.

The third set was the tightest of the night, featuring seven lead changes and 10 ties. Alverno saved its sharpest attacking for last, hitting a match-best .224 (16-5-49). Trailing 12-7, the Inferno erupted to a 7-0 run to seize an 18-14 lead, with Needham contributing five kills in the surge. Alverno stretched the advantage to 20-15, but Beloit fought back with six unanswered points to go ahead 21-20. The teams traded points down the stretch, but back-to-back kills from Mitchell and freshman Holly King (Richland Center, Wis./Ithaca) secured the sweep, 25-23.

For Beloit, Naomi Murphy led the attack with nine kills on 17 attempts, hitting .471 with just one error. Lizzie Paschal collected a team-high 15 digs, while Aaliyah Gerard dished out 11 assists. More Than a Game, 25 Years of Strength and Spirit: Alverno College is proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Alverno Athletics. Since 2000, our student-athletes have embodied the spirit of competition, teamwork, and excellence both on and off the courts and fields. Join us in honoring a quarter-century of Inferno pride on the following dates as we celebrate 25 years of strength and spirit -

• Volleyball vs. Dominican on October 4^th at noon
• Volleyball vs. Rockford on November 1^st at noon
• Softball vs. Maranatha on March 31^st at 3 p.m.
• Softball vs. Concordia Wisconsin on April 25 at noon