MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The LeMoyne-Owen College women's volleyball team closed out its 2026 season in impressive fashion Friday evening, November 6, earning a 3-1 victory over longtime rival Lane College at Bruce Johnson Hall. The victory provided a memorable conclusion to Senior Night as the Lady Magicians honored Abbie Chatman and Amaya Heard for their contributions to the program.
After dropping the opening set 20-25, LeMoyne Owen responded with three consecutive set victories, 25-23, 25-21 and 25-17, to secure the win in front of its home crowd.
The Lady Magicians demonstrated resilience throughout the contest, overcoming an early deficit before taking control of the match. Following a tightly contested second set, LeMoyne Owen continued building momentum, using an improved offensive attack and strong defensive play to pull away from the Dragons.
Freshman outside hitter Kennedy White delivered an impressive all-around performance, leading the Lady Magicians with 13 kills while adding 15 digs, three blocks and a service ace. White's contributions on both sides of the net helped provide the offensive and defensive consistency needed to secure the victory.
Jordan Williams also played a significant role in the win, finishing with 11 kills and a block. Rylee Foerster added nine kills on an efficient .421 hitting percentage while contributing three blocks.
Malani Duncan provided another strong offensive performance, recording eight kills on a team-best .500 hitting percentage while adding two blocks.
Sophomore setter Madelyn Ross directed the Lady Magicians' offense with 37 assists and two service aces, helping LeMoyne Owen finish with 47 total kills.
Defensively, freshman libero Makayla Smith anchored the back row with a match-high 19 digs and three service aces, while Ileana Austin contributed nine digs and an ace.
As a team, LeMoyne Owen finished with 47 kills, 66 digs, eight service aces and nine blocks. The Lady Magicians also held Lane to a .036 hitting percentage while recording a .166 hitting percentage of their own.
The team's offensive efficiency improved throughout the match, culminating in a dominant fourth set in which LeMoyne Owen recorded 16 kills on a .300 hitting percentage to seal the victory.
Honoring the Seniors
Beyond the excitement of the rivalry victory, Friday's contest carried additional significance as the Lady Magicians celebrated seniors Abbie Chatman and Amaya Heard.
Chatman, a Birmingham, Alabama native who transferred from Lawson State Community College, has been a valuable contributor to the program. Throughout her collegiate career, she has accumulated more than 400 assists, 450 digs and 60 service aces. This season, she recorded two double-doubles and reached double-digit assists in nine matches.
In her final collegiate volleyball appearance, Chatman contributed nine digs and three assists, helping LeMoyne Owen secure the victory. Outside of volleyball, the sociology major has also competed as a sprinter for the Lady Magicians' women's track and field program.
Heard, also a Birmingham native and Lawson State transfer, has made meaningful contributions throughout her time at LeMoyne Owen. The biology major has accumulated more than 150 career kills and 40 blocks while also serving as a manager for the college's track and field program during the spring.
Both seniors were recognized for their dedication, perseverance and commitment to the women's volleyball program.
A Memorable Finish
Friday's victory was particularly meaningful for LeMoyne Owen, which had previously fallen to Lane in a five-set contest earlier in the season. The Lady Magicians' four-set triumph allowed them to avenge that defeat while ending their campaign on a positive note.
For head coach Ma-Kayla Johnson and the Lady Magicians, the victory served as a fitting conclusion to the 2026 season, showcasing the team's determination and ability to respond to adversity.
More importantly, the evening provided an opportunity to celebrate two seniors whose contributions extended beyond the volleyball court.
With a rivalry victory secured and their seniors celebrated, the Lady Magicians closed their season with a memorable performance in front of the LeMoyne Owen faithful.
