Lynchburg, VA – After a tough loss on Friday night, the Regent University Women's Volleyball team was back in the Commonwealth on Saturday for a tri-match with Johnson & Wales University and Randolph College.  The Royals were looking to bounce back, and it would start early in the afternoon with a match against the Wildcats.   

Game One  

The first set was a back-in-forth battle with both teams finding their rhythm.  Senior Makayla Daniels (Chesapeake, VA) took control of the offense as she set up Freshman Alaina Braun-Duin (Richmond, VA) for a number of kills.  Unfortunately, that would not be enough as JWU grabbed the first set, 25-19, 

Regent would bounce back in the second and third sets, as Braun-Duin, Senior Jordan Banister (Chesapeake, VA) and Sophomore Erin Saunders (Danville, VA) came alive to dominate the scoring.  Saunders and Daniels also were able to serve up aces, which paced the Royals to the wins, 25-12 and 25-20.   

The fourth set would prove to be the deciding set, as Regent began to pull away from the Wildcats.  Senior Shaley Wertz (Kansas City, MO) and Freshman Madison Hardiman (Memphis, TN) each played a role in digs and sets, which helped the Royals pull out the win 25-20 (3-1). 

Regent was led by Braun-Duin who finished with 19 kills, followed by Saunders with 15 kills.  In addition, Banister recorded three blocks, while Daniels dished out 23 assists and Hardiman finished with 19 digs.   

Game Two 

This was a rematch from the first weekend of the season where the teams played a close five set match.  Today would be no different as the Wildcats jumped out to a quick first set win, 25-9.  However, the Royals came alive in the second set as Braun-Duin picked up where she left off in the first match by scoring points at the net.  Another ace by Saunders helped Regent even things up by winning the set, 25-18. 

The third and fourth sets would both go back-in-forth with a number of lead changes.  Saunders and Banister kept the Royals in the sets, while Wertz and Hardiman continued to lead the teams in digs and sets.  Unfortunately, it would not be enough as Regent fell by a final score of 3-1. 

Regent was led by Braun-Duin who finished with 13 kills, followed by Saunders with 12 kills.  In addition, Wertz dished out 18 assists and Hardiman finished with 19 digs. 

The Royals will be back in action on Tuesday, October 29th when they host Mid-Atlantic Christian University for Senior Night.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm.