Santa Cruz, CA – It was a long trip to the west coast that saw the Regent University Women's Volleyball team fly through Atlanta and then take the five-hour flight to San Jose. However, the time in the air was appreciated because the award was one that saw the Royals qualify for a spot in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament. Regent, the #5 seed, completed the regular season with a program best record of 17-9 and were matched up in the quarterfinals with the #4 seed and fellow Virginia school, the University of Mary Washington. The two met a few weeks ago, and this would be a rematch of a game that saw the Royals give one of their most complete efforts of the season.
Freshman Annalise Todd (Raleigh, NC) started the first set with two straight blocks to give Regent an early two-point advantage. However, the Eagles battled back to eventually tie the game until Junior Erin Saunders (Danville, VA) stepped to the service line for two more points. The lead would change hands on numerous points with both teams taking advantage of their opportunities. However, Mary Washington was able to grab their largest lead at 10-6. Saunders quickly erased that a few plays later and then after a service ace from Sophomore Alaina Braun-Duin (Stephens City, VA) the Eagles called a timeout with the Royals leading 13-10. Braun-Duin kept her dominance at the service line, while Saunders and Freshman Emma Kristiansen (Sparta, NJ) helped increase the advantage. Freshman Rylee Stewart (Newport News, VA) would get in on the scoring with a block at the net and then Saunders kept things alive with a kill helping Regent win the set 25-17.
The Eagles began the second set with three straight points, but Todd slowed them down with two straight kills. Freshman Daily Davis (Bristow, VA) served up an ace and suddenly the Royals were back in it. However, Mary Washington would go on a run until Todd trimmed the deficit to just three points. Eventually, the Eagles were able to go ahead by five points until Saunders delivered a strong cross court kill to pull closer. Unfortunately, Mary Washington would maintain their lead and win the set, 25-16.
The third set started with a service ace by Stewart, but the Eagles answered and took the lead. The score would eventually be tied until Todd came up with a block to help Regent regain the advantage and then that was followed by a block by Braun-Duin. Kristiansen kept the scoring going and then Senior Brielle Peltonen (Virginia Beach, VA) added another to stay out in front. However, a few points later Mary Washington went on a small run to take the lead 10-8 but after a kill from Kristiansen and two by Saunders, the Royals regained the lead. A strong Kill by Braun-Duin kept the Regent advantage and suddenly they held a two-point lead. Todd delivered a kill of her own to keep the scoring going and that was followed by a kill from Kristiansen. However, the Eagles fought back to tie the score, but Regent was able to stay calm and win the set 25-22.
Senior Eliana Winn (Albuquerque, NM) began the fourth set with a strong kill and then the two teams would trade points on the next few possessions. A block by Braun-Duin gave the Royals a two-point advantage and that was followed by a service ace from Peltonen. Eventually, Regent found themselves up by four points, forcing the Eagles to call a time out. Mary Washington would string together a few points to tie the score and then eventually take the lead. However, back-to-back kills by Saunders and Winn tied things up again, but the Eagles would, once again, retake the advantage and eventually win the set 25-16.
The fifth set started with a service ace from Stewart, but Mary Washington answered with back-to-back points. However, as she has done all day, Saunders came up big with a kill and then from the service line to take the lead. A kill by Braun-Duin kept the advantage but the Eagles eventually tied things back up and then took the two-point lead. They would continue to score points and win the match by a final score of 3-2 (15-9).
Saunders finished with 17 kills and 15 digs, while Stweart dished out 36 assists. In addition, Braun-Duin had 9 kills and Sophomore Madison Hardiman (Memphis, TN) recorded 10 digs.
This was a record setting season for the Royals as they finished the season with a record of 17-10, which is the best in school history. While the outcome was not what they came to California for, Regent walked off the court with their heads held high knowing they proved that they belong in the NCAA and Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference.
