PEMBROKE, N.C. – A pair thrilling semifinal matches on Saturday of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Championship sets up a championship match featuring the top two seeds. Emmanuel University topped UNC Pembroke 3-2 before Converse University edged Francis Marion University 3-2.

No. 1 Emmanuel def. No. 4 UNC Pembroke 3-2 (25-18, 25-21, 22-25, 22-25, 15-10)
Emmanuel pulled away late in the opening set, closing the set on a 9-3 run to take a 1-0 lead with the 25-18 victory. The Lions again used a late run, scoring the final five points to take the set 25-21 and lead the match 2-0. Emmanuel kept the momentum in the third set, opening up a 13-7 advantage. The Braves chipped away and eventually evened the tally at 21 and took a 22-21 lead with the 3-0 run. UNC Pembroke then scored the final three points to take the set 25-22.

UNC Pembroke held the advantage through the majority of the fourth set and pulled away late with three straight points to break a 19-19 tie. The Braves sent the match to a fifth set, winning the fourth set 25-22.

The Braves grabbed the lead early in the fifth set, but Emmanuel came back and took a 6-4 lead to force a UNC Pembroke timeout. The Braves scored back-to-back points out of the break, but Emmanuel responded with three straight to force another UNC Pembroke timeout. Emmanuel then pulled away to take the set 15-10 and the match 3-2.

Ellie Jackson led Emmanuel with 18 kills and 21 digs while Jada Porter added 16 kills. Marusa Pesut handed out 48 assists to go along with 14 digs while Isabel Miller added 20 digs. Abby Pedduzi led UNC Pembroke with 21 kills and 10 digs.

No. 2 Converse def. No. 3 Francis Marion 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-17, 15-13)
Francis Marion raced out to a 7-1 lead in the opening set, but Converse fought back and evened the tally at 20. However, the Patriots scored five of the last six points to take the set 25-21. The second set was the reverse of the first as Converse jumped out to a 6-1 lead before the Patriots came back to even the score at 15. Francis Marion later held a 17-16 lead before Converse went on a 5-1 run to take a 21-18 lead. From there the Valkyries took the set 25-20.

Francis Marion broke 9-9 tie with a 3-0 run and maintained that advantage until late in the set. The Patriots closed the 25-18 win by taking six of the final seven points. Converse used a 5-0 run to break a tie at four and gain control of the set. The Valkyries forced a decisive fifth set with the 25-17 win.

The teams traded three 3-0 runs, as a 6-3 Converse lead forced a Francis Marion timeout. Three straight Patriot points later forced a Converse timeout with the Valkyries leading 8-6. Two more Patriot points out of the break evened the score at eight before back-to-back Converse points forced another Patriot timeout. The Valkyries added a point out of the break and took the set 15-13.

Ariel Bryant led Converse with 19 kills and eight digs while Alysha Arroyo added 49 assists and 21 digs. Scarlett Xiong led the way with 23 digs. For Francis Marion, Camryn Faggart led the way with 18 kills.

Converse will face Emmanuel in the championship match at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. This will be Emmanuel’s sixth appearance in the championship match, having won four titles including last year. Converse is making their second appearance, having won the 2024 crown.

Fans can watch every game of the tournament live via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network powered by Hudl at ConferenceCarolinas.com/watch. Fans can purchase an all-tournament pass for $25 or a daily pass for $10.

Information regarding the championship schedule, bracket are available at the links below.
 

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CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE | BRACKET | LIVE VIDEO | FINAL SITE TICKETS
 

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2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship
First Round – Friday, November 6 (Higher Seed Hosts)
No. 5 North Greenville def. No. 12 Chowan, 3-0 BOX SCORE
No. 6 Mount Olive def. No. 11 King, 3-1 BOX SCORE
No. 10 Shorter def. No. 7 Lees-McRae, 3-2 BOX SCORE
No. 8 Southern Wesleyan def. No. 9 Belmont Abbey, 3-2 BOX SCORE

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, November 10 (Higher Seed Hosts)
No. 1 Emmanuel def. No. 8 Southern Wesleyan, 3-0 BOX SCORE
No. 2 Converse def. No. 10 Shorter, 3-0 BOX SCORE

Quarterfinals – Wednesday, November 11 (Higher Seed Hosts)
No. 3 Francis Marion def. No. 6 Mount Olive, 3-1 BOX SCORE
No. 4 UNC Pembroke def. No. 5 North Greenville, 3-0 BOX SCORE

Semifinals – Saturday, November 14 (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court – Pembroke, N.C.)
No. 1 Emmanuel def. No. 4 UNC Pembroke, 3-2 BOX SCORE
No. 2 Converse def. No. 3 Francis Marion, 3-2 BOX SCORE

Final – Sunday, November 15 (Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court – Pembroke, N.C.)
No. 2 Converse vs. No. 1 Emmanuel, 3:00 p.m.