MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The LeMoyne-Owen College women's volleyball team opened its 2026 campaign with a challenging test at the Mulerider Invitational, hosted by Southern Arkansas University. While the Lady Magicians returned home still searching for their first victory of the season, the weekend provided several encouraging signs for a young team continuing to find its identity.
The tournament featured a strong field of NCAA Division II programs, including Southern Arkansas, Texas A&M-Kingsville, UT Tyler, Central Oklahoma and Arkansas-Monticello. For head coach Makayla "MJ" Johnson and her squad, the opportunity to compete against quality opponents early in the season was an important step toward preparing for the demands of conference play.
LeMoyne-Owen finished the tournament 0-4, falling in straight sets to Southern Arkansas and Texas A&M-Kingsville before pushing Arkansas-Monticello to five sets. The Lady Magicians closed the weekend with a 3-0 loss against UT Tyler.
Although the results were not what LOC hoped for, the tournament offered valuable experience for a roster featuring several newcomers who are still adjusting to playing alongside one another at the collegiate level.
One of the biggest challenges for the Lady Magicians throughout the weekend was limiting costly mistakes on the offensive side of the ball. LOC totaled 108 kills across its four matches but also committed 83 attacking errors, finishing the tournament with a .059 team hitting percentage. Those numbers showed an area that will need improvement moving forward, but they also provided a clear point of emphasis as the team continues to develop.
The Lady Magicians' most complete performance came against Arkansas-Monticello in a hard-fought five-set battle.
After the Cotton Blossoms claimed the opening set, LOC responded with some of its best volleyball of the weekend. The Lady Magicians captured the second and third sets to take control of the match and swing the momentum in their favor.
Defense played a major role in the turnaround. LeMoyne-Owen frustrated the Arkansas-Monticello attack throughout the second set, holding the Cotton Blossoms to a -.047 hitting percentage. The defensive effort allowed LOC to settle into the match and showed the type of team the Lady Magicians can become when they play with consistency and discipline.
Arkansas-Monticello responded by winning the fourth set, setting up a decisive fifth frame. With the match hanging in the balance, offensive errors and struggles with efficiency ultimately proved costly for LOC as the Cotton Blossoms escaped with the 3-2 victory.
Despite the loss, taking a quality opponent to five sets after falling behind early provided another encouraging sign for Johnson and her staff. Rather than allowing the opening set to dictate the match, the Lady Magicians responded, adjusted and put themselves in position to win.
Several individual performances also stood out during the weekend.
Sophomore Madelyn Ross led the way and was rewarded for her versatility by earning a spot on the Mulerider Invitational All-Tournament Team. Ross nearly recorded a triple-double against Texas A&M-Kingsville, finishing with eight kills, 10 assists and nine digs. She followed that performance by recording 20 assists in LOC's five-set battle against Arkansas-Monticello.
Ross' ability to contribute in multiple areas continues to make her an important piece of the Lady Magicians' lineup as the team works to establish consistency early in the season.
True freshman Makayla Smith also made an immediate impact in her first collegiate action.
Making her debut as the Lady Magicians' starting libero, Smith recorded double-digit digs against both Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello. She also collected the first service ace of her collegiate career against the Cotton Blossoms.
More importantly, Smith showed an early willingness to make plays in crucial moments. Her defensive presence and energy throughout the weekend offered a glimpse of the impact she could have as she continues adjusting to the college game. For a young LOC roster searching for players who can help change the momentum of matches, Smith has already shown signs that she can become one of those catalysts.
The opening weekend may not have produced a victory, but it did provide the Lady Magicians with something equally valuable this early in the season: experience.
With a roster featuring a number of new faces, Johnson has intentionally placed her team in competitive environments that will challenge the group before conference play arrives. Playing talented Division II programs early gives LOC an opportunity to identify weaknesses, build chemistry and learn how to respond when matches become difficult.
The next step will be turning those lessons into more consistent execution.
LeMoyne-Owen will have another opportunity to do just that when the Lady Magicians travel to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, for the Henderson State University Tournament on Sept. 4-5. LOC is scheduled to play four matches during the two-day event as the team continues its early-season road stretch.
For the Lady Magicians, the focus remains on steady improvement. Cleaning up attacking errors and becoming more efficient offensively will be important, but performances such as the five-set battle against Arkansas-Monticello, Ross' all-tournament recognition and Smith's promising collegiate debut provide reasons for optimism.
The results may not show it yet, but the pieces are beginning to come together.
Live statistics and streaming information for the Henderson State University Tournament will be available through the LeMoyne-Owen College Athletics website.
