Chiles Volleyball Prevails as Key Player Leaves Match with Injury

On Aug. 28th, the Chiles volleyball team (7-0) faced the undefeated Gulf Breeze Dolphins (4-1) searching for their seventh win of the season to stay undefeated. The Timberwolves came out victorious and handed Gulf Breeze their first loss of the 2025-2026 season.

Both teams were going back and forth in the first set coming down to the wire with it tied 25-25. After a crucial block by Loganne Abernathy (Jr.) and a Gulf Breeze serving error, Chiles had a chance to put the ball away but could not capitalize. As the score got to 28-27, Eva Goodson (Sr.) had a clutch kill to stay in the set. Loganne Abernathy sent the Timberwolves into the second set up 1-0 with another crucial block winning the set 32-30.

Gulf Breeze got off to a quick start in the second set, but the Timberwolves came back quickly regaining the lead at 6-4. There was a long pause in the middle of the second set as Chiles hitter and setter Eva Goodson left the court with what looked like an ankle injury. Goodson, an Appalachian State commit, is a six-rotation player and has been instrumental in the Chiles outside attack, tallying 78 kills this season.

Coming out of the official timeout, several players stepped up and the Timberwolves found an offensive groove winning the second set 25-18 to go up 2-0.

In a close back and forth, Chiles closed out the third set to win the match 3-0 with set scores of 32-30, 25-28, and 25-21.

Notable players for the Timberwolves include Lindsay Smith (Sr.) with 16 kills and five errors, Sterling Carlile (So.) with nine kills and four errors and Loganne Abernathy with six kills and six total blocks.

Chiles’ next match is an away game against Niceville (1-2) on Sep. 4.