By Niko Marinacci
The Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs women’s volleyball team has found a strong rhythm in recent contests, mounting a five‐game win streak that signals both the competitive potential of the squad and the positive trajectory of the season. Over the span of these matches, the Bulldogs have shown a willingness to grind out wins and contribute to making program history.
The streak began on October 3rd when the Lady Bulldogs won at home against Truett McConnell with a score of 3-1. This win layed the groundwork for an increase in momentum and created a spark for the team. Shortly thereafter, on October 4th, they followed up with a sweep against the Montreat Cavaliers (3-0) demonstrating that when the team is clicking, they can finish off opponents cleanly. Their next victory came on October 7th against Johnson University, in which the Bulldogs fought until the end and came out on top. That win was meaningful in that it came on the road and in a tight five-set match, setting the tone for the rest of the run. Their fourth consecutive win, much like the third, was an intense five set match against Columbia College that resulted in a huge win for the Bulldogs. Lastly, on October 14th the Bulldogs went on to face a significant rival, the Bryan lions, which resulted in the team dominating in another sweep. These combined victories give the Bulldogs a five-match run in which they showed competitiveness across both tight contests and commanding sweeps.
Two added wins earlier in the season also reflect the team’s ability to string victories together: a 3-0 win over the Toccoa Falls Eagles on September 9th and a 3-0 win over the Bluefield Rams on September 20th.
In terms of context, the Bulldogs’ 2024-25 season had been challenging, finishing with an overall record of 10-22 and a conference mark of 7-14. This history gives even more weight to the current win streak: it signals that the program is trending upward rather than merely maintaining the status quo. The coaching staff and players are clearly responding to prior season struggles and refining their game. The ability to sustain a five-game stretch of winning is a tangible marker of improvement.
We conducted a multi-question interview with player Talynn Wheeler, number 22, regarding the team. The questions were as follows:
Q: How does it feel knowing the team is so close to making the playoffs?
A: I think it’s really exciting that we know that we are close to making the playoffs because I know that the team’s record in the past that making it to the playoffs was not a high possibility, but knowing that we are closer to being in the top teams that make it to the playoffs is overall, exciting.
Q: What do you think has been the key to the team’s success this season?
A: This year the key to our successes has been communication, chemistry, and talent. Obviously if you have the talent your team will go far, but you also need team chemistry and communication and that has taken us pretty far this season and hopefully we can continue to build with that.
Q: How has the team improved since the start of the year?
A: I feel like our team has improved since the start of the season because of chemistry. Most teams start off bumpy because they don’t have the chemistry yet since there are new people and they haven’t been acquainted with the team and there hasn’t been a connection. II feel like throughout the practices, games, and tournaments, you get chemistry very fast, and I think that that has been the main improvement from the start until now.
Q: What has been your favorite game/moment this season?
A: My favorite moment so far this season was playing and beating Johnson University. I think this was my favorite because it was a match that was taken to five sets, and each set was very close. It was a loud, fun, communicative game and we ended up with a win so that was great.
Q: How do you and your teammates keep each other motivated?
A: My teammates and I keep each other motivated by pushing each other to be better every day. By giving us the competition in practice whenever we play against each other and by fighting for spots, that usually motivates a player to be the best that they can be, whenever they are fighting for a spot.
Looking ahead, the Bulldogs should aim to maintain this momentum. Practicing habits that foster consistency will be vital. It may also be important for the coaching staff to continue setting incremental goals. Additionally, as they transition deeper into conference play, handling adversity and bouncing back after losses is a determining factor in the race for playoff contention. A team trending upward but unable to rebound from setbacks may stall, but the Bulldogs will look to prove that they are not that.
Photos By Robert Gordon
Interview By David Ballenilla
Edited and Published By Jayla Lowe
The Bulldog Beat 