BABSON PARK, Fla. (October 12, 2021) - The Webber International University women's volleyball team secured its first conference victory Saturday evening as they outlasted their Crooked Lake rivals, the Warner University Royals, in four sets (16-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-23). 
 
The victory was Head Coach Matt Geer's first conference-victory with the Warriors. "The team did a wonderful job executing and staying engaged the whole time," said Geer. "There is nothing better than beating a conference rival opponent." 
 
The Royals (4-14 overall, 0-7 SUN) took the first set by a score of 25-16. The Warriors (10-10, 1-6) battled back to sweep the remaining sets 25-21, 25-20, and 25-23 to win the match and give themselves their first conference win. 
 
Behind an extremely vocal and animated crowd of roughly 250 people, the Warriors fed off the energy and started to click on all cylinders. Sophomore sensation Kiersten Tisdale stepped out of her normal libero role, moving to outside hitter and along with junior Bailey Sikkema, led the team in kills with 10.  The Tisdale move to outside was something Head Coach Geer and the coaching staff have been contemplating for a while. 
 
"She is such a talented player," said Geer of Tisdale. "Her serve receive has always been really strong and she has been a really efficient and dynamic outside hitter. It's been important to us to have a six rotation outside so that way we have less subs."
 
Senior setter Amanda Vega paced the Warriors with 18 assists and four aces. The Warriors tallied eight blocks on the day led by freshman Savanna Wilhite with five, Sikkema with three, and Teodora Ranitovic with three. 
 
The Warriors are back in action this Saturday as they host a Sun Conference match against the Ave Maria Gyrenes (12-7, 4-3). The match will begin at 2 p.m. inside the Sabbagh Athletic Center.