New Orleans, LA – The Webber International Women's Volleyball team competed in the Loyola University of New Orleans Wolf Pack Welcome on Friday and Saturday. The Warriors battled in four matches against multiple teams that are receiving votes in the first NAIA National Poll and picked up a win against Texas Wesleyan.
Webber's first draw in the tournament was #15 Montana Western. They started off strong in the first set, with Delanie Johnson picking up the first two kills. Midway through the set, Webber went on a seven-point run, taking a 14-7 lead. Newcomers Kaylee Hunt and Alanys Rodriguez got in on the action as both recorded a kill. Montana Western began chipping away at the Warrior lead until a five-point swing put the first set score at 21-19 in favor of the Bulldogs. Kills by Johnson and Hunt helped regive the Warriors the lead, even getting to set point, but Montana Western was able to retake the lead and win the set 27-25.
A block from Nadia Reid and Savanna Wilhite got Webber on the board in the first. The Warriors and Bulldogs kept it close as kills from Johnson and Rylee Bolser put the score at 6-6. The Bulldogs proceeded to go on a 19-7 run, closing out the second set with a score of 25-13, taking set two and going up 2-0.
Cintia Lorena got involved early for the Warriors, notching a kill and a combo block early in set 3. Both teams kept it close, with Rodriguez picking up a service ace. The Bulldogs began to pull away, but key blocks from Bolser, Lorena and Hunt kept the Warriors in it. Montana Western pulled away again, and took the third set by five points 25-20.
Game two for the Warriors featured the Texas Wesleyan Rams. Hunt and Wilhite started the scoring for Webber, with each netting a kill. Both teams went back and forth in the first set, as neither team was able to pull away. A block from Bolser and Johnson gave Webber a 22-21 lead, but Texas Wesleyan scored four of the next five to take set one 25-23.
The second set was more of the same for the Warriors and Rams. Both teams were evenly matched throughout the set until, with the score tied at 15-15, the Warriors took a four-point lead. Kills from Johnson, Bolser, Reid, and Hunt gave Webber set point, while a TWU service error gave the set to Webber, 25-22.
The Warriors jumped out of the gate in set three, taking an early lead thanks in part to multiple errors from the Rams. Kills from Johnson and Lorena put Webber up 11-7. The Warriors kept pushing their points, putting their lead as high 23-15, before taking the set 25-19.
Set four was the same as the other ones, as both teams were close together in points. Kills by Hunt and Reid gave Webber an early 5-4 lead. The Rams took a five-point lead, but the Warriors stormed back to tie it at 20-20. Over the next eight points, Webber outscored Texas Wesleyan 5-3 to take set four and their first win of the season.
On Saturday, Webber started out with a game against Embry-Riddle (AZ). All three sets were won by Embry-Riddle, as the Eagles were able to take early leads in all three sets. Despite the Warriors' best efforts, Webber was unable to come back and dropped the match 3-0.
Webber's final match was against the hosts, Loyola New Orleans. The Warriors took set one from the Wolfpack, thanks in part to an early 12-4 lead, capped off by a kill from Lily Arnold. Reid added back-to-back service aces, before kills from Arnold and Reid ended the set with a Warrior win, 25-19. The first set would prove to be the bright spot of the day, as the Wolfpack took the next three sets in similar fashion. Taking large runs to win set two, 25-16, set three 25-14, and set four 25-16.
The Warriors will be back in action on Friday, August 30th when they head down to Miami Gardens to take on #8 Park University.
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.
