JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The 2024 University of West Georgia Volleyball team stamped their names in the history books on Friday as the Wolves secured their first two wins at the Division I level, with wins over New Orleans and AR Pine Bluff.

"We are so proud of our team," said head coach Kara Hellmann. "To be the first UWG team to earn a Division I win is special and I know it means a lot to this group."

UWG outclassed both the Privateers and Golden Lions on Friday, putting down a combined 98 kills in the two matches while only giving up a combined 58. On top of being two kills shy of 100 on the day, West Georgia put together a .279 hitting percentage, leading to a 3-1 win over New Orleans and a 3-0 sweep over AR Pine Bluff.

MATCH ONE: UWG 3, NEW ORLEANS 1

Both teams were equally matched through the first 10 points as West Georgia held a 10-9 lead after kills from Sanai Young, Zoë LaBreche, and Mary Morgan Formby. Moments later, another kill from Formby led to a mini 3-0 run for the Wolves, giving them a four-point lead and forcing New Orleans to call their first timeout of the set. Out of the timeout, much of the same continued as an ace from Ashley Barnes extended West Georgia's lead to 19-13. After Barnes' ace, the Privateers put an end to the Wolves' run as they rattled off three straight points to make it a three-point game. From there on out, the two teams traded points before UWG won their first set in Division I history courtesy of Formby's sixth kill of the set.

Similar to the first set, the second set featured a tight race to 10 with New Orleans holding a one-point lead. The back-and-forth action continued as kills from Alex Strating and Marley Staats gave the Wolves' a 11-10 edge. Moments later, West Georgia was able to create an inch of separation as another kill from Staats sparked a 4-0 run for UWG. The Privateers responded with a 4-0 run of their own and the seesaw battle continued until Formby put down three consecutive kills to win the set, 25-22, for the Wolves.

West Georgia marched out to an 11-6 lead in the third until New Orleans put together a 7-0 run to take a 13-11 lead halfway through. A kill from Staats and an ace from Maggie Kachmarik seized New Orleans' momentum and began a 7-2 run for UWG, putting the Wolves ahead 21-19. From there on out, the Privateers used a 7-3 run to win the set, 26-24.

The Wolves scored five consecutive points in a blink of an eye, in the fourth set, before New Orleans scored four of the next five points. With the score sitting at 6-4, Formby carried a 9-3 West Georgia run to put the Wolves up 16-7. The Privateers scored points here and there to hang around but the combination of LaBreche and Formby was just too much as the duo combined for six kills down the stretch to secure the set, 25-15, and the match for UWG.

Formby led the way with a career-high 22 kills on a .475 hitting percentage, while Young recorded 10 kills on a .500 hitting percentage.

MATCH TWO: UWG 3, AR PINE BLUFF 0

West Georgia breezed to a 10-5 lead in the first set behind a pair of aces from Victoria Schmer and kills from Staats and Young. Still reeling from a career-performance in Match One, Formby showcased another hitting clinic in Set One, putting down seven kills on a .462 hitting percentage to lead UWG to a, 25-13, set win.

Set Two began similar to Set One as the Wolves led 11-4 after four total aces from Barnes and LaBreche. After the barrage of aces, AR Pine Bluff got back into the set by using a 7-4 run, cutting UWG's lead to 17-12. A kill from Callaway Cason halted the Golden Lions' run and ignited a 7-2 West Georgia run which was capped off by another kill from Formby, winning the game, 25-14 for the Wolves.

Going for a sweep and back-to-back wins to kick off their inaugural season in Division I, it was much of the same for UWG in the third. Kills from Formby, LaBreche, Cason, and Young propelled West Georgia to a 14-7 lead before a kill from AR Pine Bluff's Maci Miller halted the Wolves' run. Miller's kill may have halted the run but it didn't swing any of UWG's momentum as a kill from Staats began a 5-2 West Georgia run, giving them a nine-point lead late. Five points away from a sweep, a pair of errors from the Golden Lions, a kill from LaBreche and Formby, and a block from Strating and Formby put a stamp on a dominant season opener for the Wolves.

Formby and LaBreche led the way with a combined 23 kills on a .538 hitting percentage.

"To be able to cap the day off with another consistent performance really put an exclamation point on the day for us," Hellmann continued. "Now we focus on our recovery and getting ready for a tough match against Jacksonville State tomorrow."

West Georgia will attempt to sweep the Gamecock Invitational on Saturday with a matchup with host Jacksonville State set for 2:00 CT/3:00 ET.