VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Sweet Briar College volleyball team (0-15) was overcome by the Regent University Royals (11-7, 1-1 C2C) on the road this evening, falling in straight sets by scores of 25-1, 25-7 and 25-8.
The opening set was tough for Sweet Briar, with Regent jumping out to an 18-0 lead as Sweet Briar struggled to side out, eventually falling 25-1. First-year
Rachael Hunt (Willow Spring, N.C.) contributed by keeping the team organized, while both junior
Emily Roberts (Walkertown, N.C.) and sophomore
Mila Mutabdzija (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) showed hustle on defense. Junior
Gracyn Wright (Rock Hill, S.C.) and senior
Davis Shiflett (Louisa, Va.) were active at the net, each attempting multiple attacks, and Hunt also led with seven attack attempts. The defense saw Mutabdzija record multiple digs, providing brief respites from Regent's attack.
Sweet Briar regrouped in the second frame, managing seven points. Offensively, Hunt led with three attacks while Mutabdzija and Shiflett remained aggressive at the net. Wright and Roberts found ways to keep the ball in play. Senior
Stella Ball (Salt Lake City, Utah) subbed in and kept rallies alive, and first-year
Lyza Beach (Danville, Va.) also contributed from the bench. The team saw slight improvement in their side-out percentage as they looked for consistency on serve receive and in transition play.
The final set followed a similar script, as Sweet Briar dropped the frame 25-8. Wright remained a bright spot with several digs and continued leadership in serve reception. Mutabdzija added both a kill and multiple defensive plays, while Roberts made adjustments on the back line. Hunt tried to spark the offense with another five attack attempts while also contributing defensively. The players showed resilience on each point, pushing Regent for longer rallies than in previous sets.
Highlights
- Wright led the team with a career-high 11 digs.
- Shifflet earned the set assist on Mutabdzija's kill in the third set.
What's Next
The Vixens will wrap up the season series at Johnson C. Smith on the 21st before heading to Randolph for action against the WildCats and Virginia Union on the 25th.
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