Rocky Mount, NC – The Regent University Women's Volleyball team opened up Day One of the North Carolina Wesleyan Invitational with two sweeps against the host Battling Bishops, from the USA South and Hollins University out of the ODAC. The victories also gave Head Coach MaTia Hughes her first two wins of her collegiate coaching career.
Game One
Regent picked up its first victory of the 2026 season in convincing fashion Thursday, sweeping N.C. Wesleyan University in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19, at Everett Gymnasium.
The Royals (1-1) delivered a balanced performance on both sides of the net, finishing with 32 kills, 49 digs, seven service aces and four team blocks while holding off the Battling Bishops in each of the three sets.
Regent established the tone in the opening frame, recording 13 kills and hitting .211 on the way to a 25-21 victory. The second set proved to be the closest of the afternoon, but the Royals came through in the key moments to edge N.C. Wesleyan, 25-23, and take a commanding 2-0 advantage.
With an opportunity to close out the match, Regent did exactly that. The Royals posted their best sideout percentage of the contest in the third set at 75 percent, putting away the Battling Bishops, 25-19, to complete the sweep.
Freshman Claire Keefer (Winchester, VA) led the Regent attack with a match-high 15 kills, hitting .256 while adding 11 digs, two service aces and an assist for a strong all-around performance. Freshman Sarah Cutler (Hampstead, VA) contributed eight kills, nine digs and a service ace, while fellow Freshman Mia Wilson (Chesterfield, VA) added 3 kills and was a force at the net with 4 solo blocks.
Sophomore Rylee Stewart (Newport News, VA) directed the Royals' offense with 25 assists while also contributing four digs and a service ace. Freshman Mykenah Antenore (San Diego, CA) anchored the back row with a team-high 13 digs and added 3 assists and 2 aces. Sophomore Keira Anderson (Leland, VA) reached double figures with 10 digs while also recording 2 assists and an ace.
Game Two
Regent followed up their win as they faced Hollins University in the second match of Day One of the Invitational. The Royals continued their strong and consistent play holding off Hollins in three tightly contested sets (28-26, 25-23, 25-22) for the second consecutive sweep, pushing them to 2-1 on the season and 2-0 in the invitational.
Regent and Hollins spent most of the first set trading points. Stewart started the game setting up her teammates with three assists, matching each of Hollins', while Cutler added a kill to push the Royals' lead to 7-5. Hollins fought back and took the lead 11-9 but the Royals followed their opponent's push with three straight points. Regent continued to hold their lead until their 22nd point, when Hollins fought their way back to tie the game. Stewart and Cutler continued their one-two punch, contributing to three of the last five points, to take the set 28-26.
The Royals came out hot in the second set, jumping out to a quick lead, 5-2. However, Hollins continued to stick around, but Regent would hold onto their lead, winning the set 25-23.
After a slower start compared to the first two sets, the Royals fought back to gain a 7-6 lead with two straight points coming from Freshman Cheyenne Avery (Norfolk, VA). There were two more lead changes until Regent went on a 5-0 run, pushing their lead to 15-11, which they held onto the rest of the set, ending it for the sweep 25-22.
Cutler forced the issue with 13 kills and 9 digs, while Keefer added another 11 kills and 9 digs. Stewart commanded the offense to finish the match with 23 assists, 3 kills, and 7 digs.
The Royals will now wait to learn their opponents later tonight. Stay tuned to www.regentroyals.com as the Day Two schedule is updated.
