Shorter Sweeps Erskine on Senior Day

The Hawks won in straight sets at the Winthrop-King Centre after a Friday loss to North Greenville.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Volleyball

Expressive editorial sports illustration of two volleyball players in red and white jerseys, one spiking over the net while the other reaches to block in a college gym. — Shorter swept Erskine 3-0 on Senior Day at the Winthrop-King Centre, winning 25-13, 25-16 and 25-14 to move into a first-place tie in the southwest division. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Shorter defeated Erskine 3-0 on Senior Day, winning 25-13, 25-16 and 25-14 at the Winthrop-King Centre. The win moves Shorter to 13-16 overall and 10-9 in Conference Carolinas play.

Why it matters

The victory keeps Shorter in a tie for first place in the southwest division with Emmanuel, both at 6-1. It follows a straight-sets loss to North Greenville on Friday.

Taylor-Reese Howell recorded 19 kills and six digs, while Helena Kelley added 20 assists and eight digs. The Hawks' .436 hitting percentage and 51-20 kill edge reflect the match's one-sided offensive output.

The players

Shorter University

Shorter University is a private Christian liberal arts university in Rome, Georgia, whose athletic teams compete in the NAIA's Conference Carolinas.

Taylor-Reese Howell

Taylor-Reese Howell is a Shorter volleyball player who led the Hawks in kills during the Senior Day win over Erskine.

The details

Shorter jumped to a 7-3 lead in the first set and pulled away, then used a 6-0 run in the second set to build separation. Lana Maluda contributed eight kills and eight digs in the sweep.

Friday: Shorter lost to North Greenville 0-3 at the Winthrop-King Centre.
Saturday, November 1, 2026: Shorter defeated Erskine 3-0 on Senior Day.

Season Trajectory

Shorter's 10-9 conference record keeps the Hawks in contention within the Conference Carolinas southwest division race. The sweep of Erskine helps them hold a share of the top spot alongside Emmanuel.

The win leaves Shorter tied with Emmanuel atop the southwest division, so each remaining conference match carries weight for the standings. Fans following Rome-area college volleyball can track the division race directly from the 6-1 records of both teams.

The takeaway

Head-to-head results against conference rivals are shaping the southwest division race, so the next few matches will be decisive. Readers following the standings should watch Shorter and Emmanuel closely.