MARIETTA, GA - In a challenging showdown at the Running Eagle Classic held at Life University, Warner University's women's volleyball team, the Royals, faced a tough defeat against the Middle Georgia Knights on August 24. The thrilling match concluded with a score of 0-3 in favor of the Knights, marking it as the last match of this eventful tournament.

The Royals demonstrated resilience and competitive spirit throughout the encounter. The match opened with a closely contested first set, ending at 24-26. Despite vigorous efforts by Warner to clinch the victory in the subsequent rounds, the Knights edged them out with set scores of 22-25 and 21-25 respectively.

Leah Cooley emerged as a standout player for Warner, delivering a total of 11 kills. She was well-supported by team members Kailani Zezas and Rylee Waldie, each contributing 5 kills. On the defensive side, Ashlyn Fassnacht led the team with impressive performances both in digs, racking up 15, and sharing the team-high in assists. Sofia Suarez, along with others, provided critical blocks and digs that sustained the team during numerous rallies. Additionally, the serving was bolstered by aces from Skye McDermott and Imar Laboy, who both landed 2 aces each.

Despite the setback, the Warner Royals are looking to bounce back in their next engagement at the Florida College Labor Day Classic, where they will compete against the Milligan University Buffaloes on August 30 in Temple Terrace, FL.