Babson Park, FL. – The Webber International Women's Volleyball team hosted the Florida National Conquistadores in the Sabbagh Athletic Center for its home opener Friday Night. The Warriors took care of business against the Conquistadores winning the match 3-1.
Webber was in control of set 1 from the beginning, as Bailey Sikkema, Nadia Reid, and Cintia Lorena all collected kills to provide the Warriors with a 7-3 lead early. A kill from Teodora Ranitovic and another from Reid kept the Warrior lead at 4, 11-7. Kills from Reid and Sikkema and a block by Sikkema and Savanna Wilhite extended the lead to 6, 14-8. FNU would get three points back to drop the Warrior lead to 14-11, before more blocks from Wilhite and Lorena started the Warriors on a tear for the rest of set 1. With the score sitting at 18-12 following a Conquistador error, Bailey Berger took the set into her own hands, by rattling off three service aces over five serves, giving the Warriors a 23-12 lead. Florida National would get two points before a kill from Sikkema and an FNU service error ended set 1 25-14 in favor of the Warriors.
Neither team was able to pull ahead of the other at the beginning of set 2. Kills from Reid, Ranitovic, Delanie Johnson, and Wilhite, with the addition of a service ace from Kendall Steinert, were all counteracted by the Conquistadores as the teams sat tied 9-9. Webber sat with a comfortable three-point lead following more kills from Reid and Sikkema, in addition to errors from FNU to bring the score to 14-11. After two points from Florida National, Webber was finally able to pull ahead, going on a five-point run thanks in part to Johnson, Ranitovic, and Reid, to bring the score to 19-13. The Warriors outscored the Conquistadores six to three highlighted by a service ace from Ana Clara Araujo, to take set 2 25-16.
A kill from Reid and a block from Sikkema and Wilhite set the Warriors ahead 2-0 in set 3. Webber extended its lead to three points multiple times, following kills from Jaizah Anderson and Sikkema to make it 5-2, then a kill from Johnson and an error from FNU to make it 9-6. The Conquistadores rattled off five straight points to take the lead 11-9 and force Head Coach Justin Dee to take a timeout. Webber was able to tie the match at 14 apiece following two kills from Reid and Wilhite, as well as a service ace from Reid. The Warriors would tie it back up at 16, before a block from Anderson and Rylee Bolser gave Webber the lead again. Another kill from Anderson put the Warriors ahead 19-18, but that would be the last lead the Warriors had in set 3. FNU outscored Webber 7-3 and took set 3 25-22.
Webber started out set 4 behind, as kills from Anderson and Ranitovic were able to keep the Warriors in the set early, sitting with a two-point deficit of 6-4. Webber would go down by four before an FNU service error jumpstarted a six-point swing for the Warriors, thanks in part to kills from Reid and Wilhite, with Reid also adding in a solo block. FNU tied the game back at 10 before the Warriors went on a 5-1 with a block from Wilhite and Sikkema putting an exclamation point on the run. With Webber leading 15-11, it was only a matter of time before they went on a run. FNU was able to come within two points at 16-14. A kill from Anderson jolted energy into the Warriors as they scored five straight to bring the lead up to 21-14. Webber scored four of the next six points, capped off with kills from Anderson, Paysee Crow, and Johnson to win set 4 25-16 and win the match 3-1.
Reid once again led the Warriors in kills with 16, with Anderson and Sikkema each picking up nine. Wilhite led the team with seven blocks, while Sikkema added five. Araujo paced the team with 28 assists while Crow had 17. Berger had 12 digs to go along with three service aces.
The Warriors will be back in action on September 13th as they start Sun Conference play in the Sabbagh Center against the Florida Memorial University Lions. Head to EventBrite and reserve your tickets today!
