BABSON PARK, Fla. (March 23, 2023) - The Webber International University men's volleyball team battled its cross-town rivals, Warner University, in its final conference-match of the season on Wednesday night. The Warriors held a 2-1 lead but a comeback effort from the Royals earned them a narrow 3-2 (25-18, 21-25, 30-32, 25-22, 15-12) defeat.

The Royals (14-4 overall, 10-0 AAC) are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top-15 Coaches' Poll and are unbeaten in conference-play. Webber (7-5, 6-4) was competitive throughout the length of the match but came up just short in the end.

The Warriors fell behind early after falling in set number one, 25-18. They responded well in sets two and three, however. Leading 7-6 in the second set, Carson Barnes delivered three-straight kills to extend their lead out in front. Warner pushed to level the set and came back within two on three separate occasions, but Webber held strong to win the set and tie the match at 1-1.

Already holding a 9-7 lead in set number three, the Warriors then caught fire and continued on an 8-2 run which earned them a 17-9 lead. Webber later led 21-15 before a 5-1 run by the Royals pulled them back to within two at 22-20. Holding match-point advantage at 24-20, the Warriors allowed five-straight scores by Warner to fall behind at 25-24. The set continued back and forth as neither team wanted to budge. With the Royals leading 30-29, a kill by Barnes followed by a Warner attack error and a block by Barnes and Gunter Perea Quevedo earned the set victory for Webber.

The fourth set saw continuous runs by both teams that shifted momentum from side to side. The Warriors trailed by just one point at 21-20, however, the Royals held them off and outcored them 4-2 to end the set and level the match at 2-2.

The fifth and final set was as tight as possible with the set being tied eight different times. Tied at 11, Warner then scored three-straight to earn the set advantage and put Webber's backs to the wall. One final kill by Barnes was all the Warriors could muster as the Royals delivered the final kill to take the math 3-2.

Barnes posted career and season-highs of 22 kills and four total blocks on the night including five digs as well. He was followed by Andrea Di Paola with 10 kills and Kevin McCarthy and Pera Quevedo each with eight. Perea Quevedo tied with Lachlan Diamond for the team-high in total blocks with five each. Peyten Young tallied his second-highest assist total of the season with 56 while adding eight digs and a season-high four total blocks as well. Kennette Esquilin was all over the court defensively, recording a team-high 15 digs in total.

The Warriors will now look to their Senior Day and the final match of the regular-season when they battle Division-II Edward Waters University on Friday, March 24th at 5 p.m. inside the Sabbagh Athletic Center.