Culver-Stockton College Men’s Volleyball earned its first win of the season with a 3–2 victory over Westminster in the Wildcats’ home opener. The win marked a turning point for a team that had struggled to secure victories earlier this season, and both players and coaches emphasized the importance of teamwork and resilience.

Freshman setter Kirvan Hughes, who played a pivotal role in the match, said the win was a true reflection of the team’s collective effort. “I feel really proud of the team,” Hughes said. “We’ve had some injuries, so we needed people to step in, and I felt like everyone did. It was a team win rather than just the people on the court.”

Hughes, despite being a freshman, embraced a leadership role on the floor. “Volleyball is one of the most inclusive team sports of all time,” he said. “You can have a freshman, you can have a senior—it doesn’t matter. Everybody on the team has to play.”

Coach Jeffrey Lipton echoed Hughes’ comments and highlighted the emotional impact of the victory. “When we can play those games, learn, adapt, and finally win, it’s a really important part of building confidence,” Lipton said. “It feels good to go out there and win and go ring the bell. For me, it’s about them.”

Lipton also pointed to key moments that helped the team turn the match around. “For whatever reason, Westminster went a little flat in game four, and we won game three and game four. We started to figure out how we can be successful, and everybody started to bear down and play again. There’s a lot of emotion and a lot of adrenaline because everybody’s so desperate for a win.”

The match itself was a rollercoaster. Westminster took the first set, 25–20, and narrowly edged out the Wildcats in the second set, 28–26. Culver-Stockton responded with strong play in the next two sets, winning 25–23 and 25–17, before carrying that momentum into the tiebreaker to clinch the 3–2 victory. The comeback highlighted the team’s resilience and ability to adapt under pressure, turning what looked like a tough night into a memorable win for the Wildcats at home.