LAURINBURG, N.C. (March 31, 2018) – In what was the final two regular season matches of its inaugural NAIA season, the Webber International University men's volleyball team defeated Bluefield College in a very close 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-16, 21-25, 19-17) decision and then fell 3-1 (26-24, 21-25, 25-9, 25-23) in an exciting match with St. Andrews University.

It was the second meeting with both opponents for Webber, which finished its first official regular season with a 6-13 overall record and a 5-7 mark in the Southeastern Athletic Conference. The Warriors defeated Bluefield (7-17, 4-8) 3-0 on the opening day of the regular season back on February 2 and fell to St. Andrews (17-6, 10-2) 3-0 a month later on March 2.

In the most win over the Rams on Saturday, a kill by Justin Beecher gave the Warriors a 14-13 lead in the fifth set to set Webber up with match-point, but then the Warriors fell behind 15-14 before a kill by Zachary Ayala and a Bluefield attack error made it a 16-15 Webber lead.

Then, trailing 17-16, Webber used another kill by Ayala, a Ram's attack error and an ace by Steven Bartlett to clinch the victory.

Six Warriors finished with seven or more kills against Bluefield while Bartlett also added a career-high 13 digs and two Warriors, Kyle Robertson with 27 and Beecher with 21, both had at least 20 assists.

In blocks, a category where the Warriors entered the day ranked fifth in all of the NAIA at 2.36 per game, Cesar Remedios finished with five followed by Ayala with four and Chernak and Ludwig both with three.

In the first set against the Rams, Liam Gilchrist finished off the win with an ace, and in the third set, Webber held a big advantage throughout at 12-3, 16-7, 22-11 and 23-16.

Against SAU, Gilchrist led the way with 10 kills and was followed by Ayala and Ludwig with eight kills apiece. Beecher dished out 21 assists while Robertson had 16, Gilchrist also led the way in digs for the Warriors with seven and Chernak had a match-high four blocks.

Webber trailed 18-11 in set one against the Knights, but then used a big 12-4 run to take a 23-22 lead with three straight points coming via a kill by Chernak, a kill by Gilchrist and a service ace by Robertson.

Then, tied 24-24 after another kill by Gilchrist, SAU answered to win the first set on a kill and a block assist.

With the Warriors leading 20-19 In the second set, a kill by Beecher followed by two Knight attack errors swung the frame in Webber's favor; but then after a blowout in the third set, Webber came up just short in the fourth set after a kill by Chernak made it a one-point margin at 24-23 before the 15th kill of the night from SAU's Diego Hernandez ended it.

With the regular season wrapped up for the Warriors, Webber will play at Warner University one more time for an exhibition matchup at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 2, and will then enter the first and only Southeast Athletic Conference Tournament with a quarterfinal matchup with the host school, Campbellsville University, at 12 p.m. on Friday, April 6.