Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BARBOURVILLE, Ky.- Match 1: The Royals women's volleyball team travelled to Union College in Kentucky this past weekend to compete in the NAIA Southeastern Conference Challenge. The first match of the tournament for the Royals would put them up against the #7 nationally ranked Georgetown Tigers. The Tigers started the match with two straight points before the Royals rattled off six consecutive to take a 6-2 lead early in the first set. Points went back and forth for a bit but Georgetown was able to go on a run of their own and tie the set at 13 apiece. That is when the Royals decided they were going to take over and jump on the Tigers to stun them and open the match with a 25-17 set one victory. The Royals used three seperate runs of three straight points to close out the set on Georgetown. 

The second set was exciting from the get go as both teams battled each other back and forth throughout the set. With the score tied at 18, Georgetown benefited from a kill, error, and two blocks to take a 22-18 lead late. Warner would be able to fight back and tie the set at 24 but Georgetown would put away two kills to take set 2 and tie the match at one game apiece. 

Set three saw much of the same excitement as set two but would have a different finish. The two teams went point for point early but Georgetown went on a run and took a 18-14 lead in the set. Once again the Royals would see themselves step up and fight back to score six straight points to take a 20-18 lead on the Tigers. With Georgetown in disarray, the Royals would finish them off in set three with a 25-22 win and take a 2-1 match lead going into set 4. 

Georgetown determinied not to go down without a fight came out swinging in set four. There was some back and forth but the Tigers would be the better team in the set taking down Warner 25-21 to move on to a decisive fifth set and set the stage for some volleyball drama. 

With one set to 15 points left to play, one team had to step up and show who was better. That team was the Warner Royals. If ever an emphatic statement was made in a big win, the Royals bested that one on this day. With Georgetown up 2-1, the Royals quit playing games and decided the match had gone on long enough. They would score eight consecutive points to take a commanding 9-2 lead on the Tigers. As a timeout was called, you could see the disbelief in the eyes of the opposition. They had no answer for what the Royals had for them in the fifth set. Warner would eventually finish off Georgetown and win the set 15-10 and the match 3-2. 

That win marked a milestone in program history as it was the highest ranked opponent a women's volleyball team had ever beaten. The Royals were led offensively by Adrienne Czaplewski with 20 kills and Angie Pagan Perez with 12 kills. Kiara Rivera Escudero led the Royals with 26 assists while Raygen Lee added 17 of her own. Once again Warner was led defensively by Thalia Mendez, who continues to impress, with 27 digs.

Match 2: After a two hour and forty seven minute match against Georgetown, the Royals received a 30 minute break then had to pick themselves up and go play (RV) University of Mobile. From the start it was obvious the Royals were tired as they struggled to get going against their new opponent. The Royals came out of the gate strong but their tank was on empty and Mobile benefitted greatly from this as they were able to take the first set 25-22. 

Set two didn't fair any better for Warner as they were unable to find their bearings and muster enough energy to overcome their opposition. Mobile would take the second set 25-20 and a commanding two set lead on the Royals. With a daunting task ahead of them, the Royals needed a spark. It was nowhere to be found though and they would drop the third and final set 25-23. Mobile was able to capatalize on the Royals being at fifty percent and pull out three set wins for the 3-0 sweep of Warner. 

Warner was led in this match by Breeanna Navarro with 13 kills and Angie Pagan Perez with 12 kills. Kiara Rivera Escudero dropped in 29 assists and Thalia Mendez led with 17 digs.