Babson Park, FL – The Webber International Women's Volleyball team opened up SUN Conference play Wednesday night, hosting the Florida Memorial Lions. The Warriors, led by a double-double from Nadia Reid, swept the Lions in the Sabbagh Center and started conference play 1-0.
After an early deficit, the Warriors were able to take a 7-5 lead, thanks in part to service aces from Bailey Berger and Paysee Crow. FMU would take an early timeout to try and curb the Warriors' momentum, but Webber would score three of the next five to take a 10-7 lead. Webber and Florida Memorial traded three different three-point swings allowing the Lions to tie the game at 13 apiece. Two kills from Reid gave the Warriors a 15-13 lead, but the Lions would score three straight to take their final lead of set 1, 17-16. Kills from Bailey Sikkema and Teodora Ranitovic allowed the Warriors to retake their lead 19-16. Florida Memorial did not go down easy, however, retying the game at 20. Ranitovic, Reid, and Cintia Lorena would close out set 1 with a score of 25-21.
The Warriors would have to play catch up in set 2, gaining an early deficit of 8-4. A kill from Sikkema and another ace from Crow brought the Warriors within two before FMU was able to extend the lead to five, 12-7. A kill from Reid kickstarted a Warrior run, with Kendall Steinert serving for a total of six straight points, highlighted by a service ace of her own, helping the Warriors take a 14-12 lead. Webber would keep their lead at two following more kills from Reid. The Lions would score six of the next nine points to take the lead 20-19 and force the Warriors into a timeout. Webber came out of the timeout swinging, as Lorena picked up a kill to tie it before Kiersten Tisdale secured a service ace to give the Warriors the lead for good in set 2. Webber would go on to win set 2 25-22, with another kill from Reid sealing the set point.
Webber led wire to wire in set 3, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead following a kill from Jaizah Anderson and a service ace from Reid. Wilhite and Ranitovic got two kills of their own and Florida Memorial took a timeout with the score sitting at 5-2. The Warriors and Lions would trade points back and forth, with Wilhite, Sikkema, and Ranitovic picking up multiple blocks to put the Warriors up 11-7, and FMU taking their second timeout. The Lions wound up taking advantage of multiple Warrior errors, tying the match up at 16 apiece and then again at 17, but that was the closest FMU would get for the rest of the match. Webber scored seven of the next eight points, with a whole host of Warriors contributing, including Reid, Sikkema, Anderson, and Berger. With the score 24-18, the Lions scored three more points before another spectacular kill from Reid ended the set 25-21, giving the Warriors a 3-0 sweep over the Lions.
Head Coach Justin Dee earned his first SUN Conference victory and was very excited for himself and his team.
"It's a great day to be a Webber Warrior. What a night. A great start to something special. We worked hard and did our homework and the ladies executed so well tonight what we worked on in film. Nadia Reid played outstanding in the front row and the back row. Both offensively and defensively we executed the game plan and made plays," Dee said. "We finally had a positive service efficiency of having more aces than errors. And honestly, we would have not had the outcome we had tonight without our bench. They ignited the crowd and the crowd brought us to a 3-0 sweep. Everyone deserves a piece of this victory. It's just a great day to be a Warrior! Go Warriors!"
Reid led the Warriors with 16 kills and 13 digs, recording a double-double, while also contributing two service aces. Ranitovic, Sikkema, and Wilhite all contributed with two blocks apiece, while Sikkema also added eight kills. Ranitovic ended the night with a .500 hitting percentage to go along with seven kills.
The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday, September 16th, when they travel to Miami Gardens to take on the St. Thomas Bobcats.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Warrior Athletics. Please visit www.webberathletics.com. Follow us on Twitter- @WebberAthletics, Instagram- @Webber_Athletics, and Facebook by searching Webber International University Athletics.
