LAKE WALES, Fla. – Back-to-back 5-set finishes for the Royals spells conference split. The Royals were able to overcome Ave Maria in a 5-set battle on Saturday. Unfortunately, they fell to the Fire at home in a 5-set battle that went down to the wire.
The all-time series for the Royals and the Fire tips in favor of the Royals 18-15 after falling last night. The Royals also lead in the all-time conference series 13-6. Before last night, the Royals were 8-6 against the Fire when facing them in the Turner Athletic Center. That has now decreased to 8-7 but not after a strong fight for the Royals.
The first two sets went in favor of the Fire in what looked to be a straight three set sweep. (17-25, 21-25).
In the third set, trailing 18-22, the Royals dug down deep and won 10 of the next 13 points to take set three 27-25.
After establishing the strong comeback in the third set, Warner stood their ground and took set four 25-20 forcing set five.
In a back and forth race, the Fire and Royals battled point for point virtually the entire fifth set. The Fire jumped out to a 10-14 lead over the Royals right at the end of the set, the Royals closed the gap off three different Royal kills by
Alexandra Gonzalez,
Lady Gwendolyn Simpson and
Sydney Ackermann making it 13-14 in favor of the Fire. A quick set and kill were all it took for the Fire to end the match with a final of 13-15.
Alexandra Gonzalez extended her kill total on the season, now just one kill shy of 150. She also improved on her attacking percentage finishing the match with a .280%. With 11-digs, it marks Gonzalez's 4
th double-double of the season with back to back double-doubles in Sun Conference matchups.
Grace Bergeron led the Royals in overall digs with 17.
Bailee Mack and
Madison Hughes were virtually the same in the matchup, Mack finished with 24-assists and 9-digs while Hughes finished with 23-assists and 8-digs.
The Royals fall to (4-7) overall and (2-4) in Sun Conference play. They pair up against St. Thomas University in Miami on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in continuation of The Sun Conference schedule.
