Boston College volleyball wasted no time making a statement to open its 2026 season, rolling past Air Force in straight sets Friday night at the Margot Connell Center.
The Eagles earned a 3-0 win by scores of 25-18, 25-22, and 25-13, and the result carried extra weight: it was Boston College’s first victory ever in program history.
Audrey Ross powered the attack with a career-high 24 kills and 26 points, while Sofija Marjanovic and Laney Blevins each added six kills. Lucy Mott and Ava McBride kept the offense moving with a combined 33 assists, and Naomi Watson made her first career start count by leading the team with three blocks.
Boston College had to work through some early resistance in the first set. The Eagles created separation with a six-point swing to move in front 10-3, but Air Force fought back and cut the margin to two, prompting a Boston College timeout.
Ross answered with her sixth and seventh kills to stop the momentum, then Marjanovic delivered back-to-back kills to push the Eagles back ahead 22-18. Blevins and Ross finished it off as Boston College took the set 25-18.
The second set turned into a test. Boston College got out to an early lead, but Air Force seized control with 11 straight points and carried a 15-13 edge into the media timeout.
The Falcons kept pressing and scored the first three points after play resumed. Boston College finally steadied itself with kills from Sam Hoppes, Reese Dunkle, Blevins and Marjanovic to tie things at 19-19.
From there, Ross and Hoppes helped close it out, combining on four of the final six points as the Eagles edged the set 25-22.
By the third set, Boston College had found its rhythm. Ross sparked a fast start with four kills as the Eagles jumped to a 9-3 lead and forced Air Force to call timeout.
Boston College stretched the margin to 15-8 by the media break, then put the match out of reach with a 6-0 run that featured consecutive kills from Watson. Brooklyn Yelland sealed the sweep with a service ace, and the Eagles completed the 25-13 finish.
Boston College wraps up the Chestnut Hill Invite on Sunday, August 30, at 1 p.m. against Quinnipiac. Coverage will be available on ACCNX.
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Boston College May Need Jaedn Skeete More Than Ever In 2026
Boston Colleges 2026 outlook under Bill OBrien includes a familiar kind of gamble at receiver, one centered on Jaedn Skeete. The Eagles have already seen enough of his potential to believe he can be a major part of the offense, and that matters even more as the roster turns over and the team looks for reliable playmakers to emerge on the outside.
The challenge, as always, is availability. Skeete has not been able to build much momentum the past two seasons because of injuries, and another rehab stretch kept him out of spring camp, which only adds to the uncertainty around his role. If he can finally stay on the field, Boston College has a clear path for him to become the lead option at wide receiver in 2026. [Read more 🡒]