Cougars Battle to Five Sets in Season Opener Against Union College

The Frederick Community College Cougars women's volleyball team opened its 2025 season with a thrilling five-set battle against the Union College Owls on Friday night at home, ultimately falling 3-2. The Cougars came out strong, taking the opening set 25-16 behind sharp hitting from Brynn Cochran and Eva Turner, but Union answered back to even the match with a 25-16 win of their own. The two sides traded momentum throughout the night, with Frederick narrowly dropping the third set 25-23 before storming back in the fourth with a dominant 25-12 performance to force a decisive fifth. In the final frame, the Owls held on for a 15-8 win to seal the match.

Despite the loss, Frederick's sophomore, Cochran, led the way with 16 kills and 18 digs for an impressive double-double. Turner added 13 kills and a team-high six service aces, while setter Arianna Calhoun orchestrated the attack with 31 assists and chipped in 10 digs of her own. As a team, the Cougars tallied 22 aces and 66 digs, going the distance in a five-set match.

With 17 regular-season matches still ahead, Frederick will look to build on this competitive start, under their first-year head coach Anna Witt, as they prepare for their next test at home on Tuesday, September 3, when they welcome Region 20 rival Hagerstown Community College for a 6:00 PM showdown.