Winston-Salem, NC – The Regent University Women's Volleyball team traveled to North Carolina on Friday to begin a three-game weekend road trip. Their first stop was at Carolina University, the site where the Royals won last year's South Region Championship. The Region rivals are no strangers to each other and today's match would be another example of both teams' dominance in the South Region.
Regent jumped out to an early lead in the first set, 5-3. as their offense controlled the net. However, Carolina would mount a comeback and eventually gained the advantage, 14-9. A kill by Sophomore Erin Saunders (Danville, VA) inched the Royals closer but they would fall in the first set, 25-13.
The second set began with Freshman Evie Novak (Glade Hill, VA) earning a point and that was followed by a service ace from fellow Freshman Madison Hardiman (Memphis, TN). Back-to-back kills from Freshman Alaina Braun-Duin (Richmond, VA) and Senior Jordan Banister (Chesapeake, VA) gave Regent the lead, 8-7. The score would remain close as both teams traded points, and the set was eventually tied at 20-20. A service ace from Bruan-Duin gave the Royals the lead but the Bruins came back to win, 26-24.
Novak and Saunders helped Regent open up the third set with two straight kills. Saunders would continue to get points as the Royals jumped out to the early advantage, 7-2. Banister eventually got in on the scoring action and suddenly Regent had increased their lead to 11-4. However, Carolina began to chip away but Saunders and Banister kept them at bay to win the set 25-22.
Both teams came out determined in the fourth set as the score was tied early, 4-4. The Bruins would take the advantage, but the Royals came back to tie the score up after two Bruan-Duin kills and one from Saunders. However, that would not be enough as Regent fell in the final set, 25-22.
Banister led the Royals with 11 kills, followed by Saunders and Braun-Duin with 10 a piece. Senior Shaley Wertz (Kansas City, MO) dished out a team high 18 assists, while Hardiman led the team with 17 digs.
Regent will be back in action tomorrow, October 26th as they travel to Lynchburg for a tri-match with Johnson & Wales University and Randolph College. First Serve is scheduled for 2:00pm.
