BABSON PARK, Fla. (October 5, 2022) - The Webber International University women's volleyball team faced the Southeastern University Fire for the first time this season inside the Sabbagh Athletic Center on Wednesday night. Each set was tightly contested but after dropping the first set, the Warriors would win three-straight to earn the 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 29-27, 25-22) victory.

The Warriors (11-7 overall, 1-2 SUN) outhit the Fire (6-9, 2-2) with a .213 hitting percentage compared to the .121 of Southeastern.

Tied at 11 in the first set, the Fire went on a 9-1 run to take a 20-12 lead. Webber then went on a 7-1 run that would cut the lead to just two at 21-19. However, Southeastern did enough to hold off the Warriors and take the set one victory.

Set number two was back-and-forth the whole way with momentum swings in either direction. The Warriors held a 15-14 lead but would extend it yet further after scoring four-straight that included kills from Bailey Sikkema and Teodora Ranitovic as well as an ace from Paysee Crow. The Fire battled back within three at 24-21 but ultimately the set would be taken by the Warriors to even the match at 1-1.

The third set proved to be the most competitive of the match as it came down to overtime. The Warriors would hold set-point at 24-23 and three other times, but each time the Fire would respond to tie it up. Tied at 27, fueled by the electric home crowd, an attack error from Southeastern followed by a service ace from Amanda Vega earned the Warriors the 2-1 lead.

The Fire had a red-hot start to the fourth set, taking an early 11-4 lead. Webber came back with an 8-1 run to tie the set up at 12-12 before another 5-2 run put the Warriors in front 17-14. Southeastern would never come within two points of the Warriors for the rest of the set as Webber sealed their second Sun-Conference victory of the season.

"One of our team sayings is 'Why Not Us?' and I think we proved tonight why we should be in the discussion", said Head Coach Allyson Moorman. "We got down early but fought our way back to take the win. These girls are fighters and I am so proud to be their coach."

Leading the way offensively for Webber was Lorena with 11 kills followed by Nadia Reid and Sikkema with 10 kills each. Vega and Crow handled setting duties, earning 22 and 15 assists respectively. Bailey Berger led the team with 11 digs followed by Gabriela Lopez with 10 and Vega with nine. The Warriors tallied 19 blocks in total and were led by Savannah Wilhite with five total blocks. Sikkema, Lorena and Ranitovic all finished with four total blocks as well.

The Warriors now have four-straight road matchups, starting with a match that was rescheduled due to Hurricane Ian on Monday, October 10th at 7 p.m. against Florida Memorial University. They will then battle the Ave Maria University Gyrenes on Saturday, October 15th at 2 p.m.