FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 18, 2026
Klamath Falls, Ore. | The Warner Pacific University women's volleyball team continued Cascade Collegiate Conference play Friday evening, taking on the Oregon Tech Fightin' Owls at Danny Miles Court. The Knights showed flashes from the service line and battled throughout the night, but Oregon Tech's efficient offensive attack proved difficult to slow down as WPU fell in straight sets, 25-16, 25-13, 25-17.
Warner Pacific came out aggressively in the opening set. After Oregon Tech scored the first point,
Daisci Burrows answered with a kill before
Mia Carman delivered back-to-back service aces to give the Knights an early 3-1 advantage. Carman later added a kill to put WPU ahead 5-3, while a block from
Naomi Johnson and
Tayah-Anne Toa helped the Knights maintain an early advantage.
Oregon Tech eventually found its offensive rhythm and moved in front, but Warner Pacific continued to battle.
Amor Rapoza delivered consecutive service aces to pull the Knights within one at 12-11.
Josie Schultz, Toa and Johnson all contributed kills down the stretch before the Fightin' Owls closed out the opening set, 25-16.
The Knights produced their strongest offensive set of the evening in the second, recording nine kills and hitting .200 as a team. Schultz, Carman, Johnson, Burrows and Toa all found the floor during the frame, but Oregon Tech countered with a highly efficient attack and pulled away for a 25-13 victory to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Warner Pacific continued fighting in the third. Burrows opened the Knights' scoring with a kill, while Schultz followed with a block. Carman and Schultz contributed kills as WPU attempted to stay within striking distance. Toa also delivered a service ace to bring the Knights within four at 14-10.
Facing a late deficit, the Knights refused to go quietly. Warner Pacific put together a late 5-0 run to cut Oregon Tech's lead from 23-12 to 23-17. Johnson started the push with a kill before the Knights forced a pair of Oregon Tech attack errors. Carman then delivered back-to-back service aces, giving WPU some late momentum before the Fightin' Owls secured the final two points and the 25-17 set victory.
Naomi Johnson led Warner Pacific offensively with six kills while hitting .231 and contributing two block assists.
Josie Schultz added five kills on a .364 hitting percentage along with one solo block and one block assist. Carman finished with four kills, four service aces and seven digs, while
Amor Rapoza directed the offense with 13 assists and added two aces. Burrows contributed three kills, five assists and three digs.
From the back row,
Maya Moreno and Carman each recorded a team-high seven digs, while
Madison Flores added five. As a team, Warner Pacific finished with seven service aces, 20 kills and 26 digs.
Oregon Tech's offense ultimately proved to be the difference, as the Fightin' Owls finished with 47 kills and a .402 team hitting percentage.
Following the match, Warner Pacific head coach Nerisa Laban praised her team's effort and ability to remain together despite the result.
"We served tough keeping OIT out of system and played some scrappy volleyball but their offense was too strong. At the end of the game, we stayed positive with great energy. I am proud of our family culture in the eyes of defeat," Laban said.
The result moves Warner Pacific to 0-6 overall and 0-5 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.
