LAKE WALES, Fla. – Warner University Men's Volleyball opened the 2026 season and its home slate with a hard-fought 3–0 loss to Barry University on Friday evening inside the Tye Performance Center. Despite the sweep, the Royals pushed the Buccaneers in every set, falling by identical scores of 25–22 in each frame.
The season opener carried an added storyline, as former Warner Men's Volleyball alumnus Imanol Davila-Morales faced off against his former head coach, Pedro Davila, in a unique head-to-head matchup that highlighted the program's growth and competitive spirit.
Warner stayed within striking distance throughout the match and led the overall team statistical comparison in every category. Ultimately, unforced errors proved to be the difference in a tightly contested opener.
Offensively, Darion Graham led the Royals with 11 kills, while Caleb Welling added eight kills and a team-best three service aces. Meric Akovali orchestrated the offense with 26 assists, and defensively KJ Harrison anchored the back row with 13 digs. At the net, Romone Rudolph recorded a team-high 3.0 blocks.
As a team, the Royals totaled 39 points, 31 kills, four aces, four blocks, 30 assists, and 31 digs, showcasing balance and depth in their season debut.
Match Leaders:
Up Next:
Warner hits the road for a weekend of matches hosted by Life University in Marietta, Georgia. The Royals will next face
Indiana University East on
Friday, January 30, at 7:00 p.m., as they look to build on a promising opening performance.
#GodBlessGoRoyals | #TogetherAsOne
