LAKE WALES, Fla. – March 22, 2025 – The Warner University men's volleyball team faced two tough opponents over the weekend but fell short in both matches, losing 3-1 to Talladega College on Friday night and 3-1 to Life University on Saturday afternoon at home.
March 21 – Talladega 3, Warner 1
The Royals battled hard in their matchup against Talladega College, managing to take a set but ultimately falling 3-1. Warner showed flashes of strong play, but Talladega's consistency and offensive execution proved too much.
- Set Scores: Talladega def. Warner (26-24, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19)
- Key Performers:
- Michael Barnes led the Royals with 14 kills, adding 9 digs and 3 total blocks.
- Darion Graham contributed 11 kills, 4 digs, and 4 service aces.
- Emir Ege recorded 33 assists and 7 digs.
- Oscar Jaquez provided an efficient attack, recording 5 kills while hitting .400.
- KJ Harrison anchored the defense with 13 digs.
Warner kept pace with Talladega in each set, securing a win in the second set behind strong play from Barnes and Graham. However, Talladega responded with efficient attacking, hitting .277 overall while limiting Warner to a .098 hitting percentage.
March 22 – Life 3, Warner 1
On Saturday, Warner looked to bounce back against Life University but once again fell in a competitive 3-1 match. The Royals started strong but struggled to maintain their rhythm as Life capitalized on key opportunities.
- Set Scores: Life def. Warner (21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19)
- Key Performers:
- Darion Graham posted another strong performance with 11 kills and 5 digs.
- Michael Barnes added 7 kills and 9 total points.
- Emir Ege tallied 25 assists and 5 digs.
- Oscar Jaquez contributed 5 kills while hitting .300.
- Donovan Winsley chipped in 3 kills and 5.5 total points.
Warner opened the match with a first-set victory, hitting .300 as a team. However, Life responded with dominant hitting, finishing the match with a .349 hitting percentage. Despite solid efforts from Graham and Barnes, the Royals struggled with errors, committing 12 service errors and being out-blocked 8-6.
Up Next
Warner (7-13, 4-7 SUN Conference) will look to regroup as they continue their season in upcoming conference play.