MISHAWAKA, Ind. – The 2015-2016 sports season got underway on Friday with a pair of volleyball matches for the Lady Royals of Warner University.  Competing in the Bethel College Invitational, the Lady Royals dropped their season opener to No. 7 Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) 3-1 (17-25, 15-25, 26-24, 19-25) but won the night cap versus Indiana Tech 3-2 (20-25, 24-26, 25-20, 28-26, 18-16).

In a tough season opening match against the seventh-ranked team in the country, the Lady Royals came out fighting in the first set going back and forth with the Blue Raiders.  After dropping the first two sets, the Lady Royals scored the final two points breaking a 24-24 tie to win the third set 26-24.  The Blue Raiders never trailed in the fourth set en route to the 3-1 victory.

Adrienne Czaplewski led the Lady Royals with 15 kills in the season opener.  The 2014 Second Team All-Conference selection also collected nine digs.  Newcomer Breeanna Navarro totaled 10 kills and a .280 hitting percentage.

Junior transfer setter Jenna Swaffer tallied a double-double in her first action as a Lady Royal.  Swaffer finished with 36 assists and 12 digs.  Libero Thalia Mendez led the back row with 19 digs as well.

In their second game of the day, the Lady Royals faced off against Indiana Tech out of the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference.  After the first two sets the Lady Royals found themselves in a 0-2 hole but rallied to tie the match with back to back wins in the next two sets.  As a team the Lady Royals totaled 17 kills in the fourth set.

In the fifth and deciding set, the Lady Royals fought off match point four times before a kill by Navarro sealed the comeback with an 18-16 victory.  Czaplewski again led the team with 19 kills and added 16 digs in a winning effort.  Newcomer Angie Pagan-Perez finished with 11 kills and 13 digs as well.

Mendez and Navarro led a strong defensive group for the Lady Royals.  Mendez led the team with 25 digs while Navarro totaled five blocks in the win.

On Saturday the Lady Royals return to the hardwood for another tough day of competition at the Bethel College Invitational.  First up at 10 a.m. the Lady Royals take on No. 18 Evangel University (Mo.).  The Crusaders breezed through their first two tournament games on Friday.  The tournament finale for the Lady Royals comes against the Saints of Ashford University (Iowa).  The Saints, also receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' poll, split their matches on Friday.


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