Warhawk and Flames players meet with the referee on the sidelines. (Photo by Tre Redden)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Sept 19, 2026) – The AUM Warhawks suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat this Saturday against the Lee University Flames in a match that went down to the wire.
Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at the AUM Athletics Complex began a little later than anticipated due to several referees arriving late, but after their arrival around 1:15 p.m., the game started at 1:26 p.m.
The Warhawks were clearly upset about the previous night’s loss and came out strong, getting the first serve and the first point of the match via a blocked attack.
Lee University was clearly not put off by the Warhawk’s spirit as the team showed their burning drive to win by blitzing ahead into a 2-6 lead.
Over the course of the first set, the Flames kept the pressure up and the lead high up until they lost their 13-19 serve and the Warhawks were able to break their momentum, and close the gap by five points, up to an 18-19 score before Lee was able to re-secure the serve.
The break in the motion of the Flames clearly ignited a passion in the Warhawks as they caught up to Lee at the 20-20 mark and even managed to secure a small lead.
Only a short while later, the score was 24-23 with AUM to score the set, but a timely Time Out called by Lee University allowed them to implement the strategy needed to prevent the Warhawks from winning this first set outright, as they would go on to tie the game 24-24.
The fans on both sides watched the remaining serves on the edges of their seats as AUM fought to extinguish the hope of the Flames and Lee was hoping to leave the Warhawks flying high and dry.
The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife as the point went to AUM 25; then to Lee who scored two more points taking them to 26.
The Warhawks took a page out of the Flames book, however, and called a time out to strategize.
It clearly worked, as they scored their point 26, tying the game and then went on to score two more consecutive points, ending a nail-biter of a first set with the Warhawks 1-0.
Lee was clearly distraught over fighting so hard only to lose the first set, as the second set started with AUM securing an early two-point lead at 6-4, and then later growing that lead up to 4 points when the teams were 13-9.
Something clearly happened to stoke the embers of the Lee team’s fighting spirit as after reaching a 14-11 score with the Warhawks to serve, the Flames would secure the point and burn the Warhawks by not only nullifying their four-point lead, but by securing their own when they struck back with an eight-point gain, taking the game to 14-19.
AUM was clearly a little shaken by this turn of events, but wasn’t going down without a fight, as the players, and particularly #9, Chelsea David, fought tooth and nail to stop the Flames from securing their first set.
Unfortunately for the Warhawks, the Lee University team made it through fire and the flames of their earlier setbacks and carried on to close out the second set with a 23-25 victory.
The Flames were able to carry this momentum with them into the third set where, after an even game, Lee was able to shoot ahead and gain a five point lead, which they only increased over the course of the set, as they finished with more than double the Warhawk’s points and a set 3 score of 12-25.
As the two teams prepared to go into the fourth set, a fire was lit in the hearts of the Warhawks, who were determined to make sure that the Flames wouldn’t get to claim victory without a fight.
AUM surged ahead early, capturing the lead and holding it with a vice-grip by gaining a 7-1 lead.
The Flames fought ferociously to whittle away at the Warhawk’s six-point lead, but the fiery passion of AUM resulted in a 25-21 victory of set 4, tying the game 2-2, and taking both teams into the last set of the match.
In set 5, it was clear that both teams were tired from the long game, though it seemed like the Warhawks had burned themselves out more than the Flames, as Lee was able to secure an early 1-5 lead, making it one third of the way toward sealing the game away.
AUM tried to shatter the momentum of the Lee University team, but the unbreakable strides that the Flames were making toward victory were proving to be too much for the Warhawks.
AUM #13, Mya Lacey, was able to stop Lee University seconds away from their final point at the 8-14 mark and give the Warhawks a chance to fight back against defeat, but her efforts proved to be for naught as the Warhawks were consumed by the Flames’ ferocious offense and lost set 5, 8-15, and the match, 2-3.
This marks the twelfth loss this season and the eighth consecutive loss for our Warhawks.
With the season shaping up in this way, head coach Breylee Linder has a lot of work ahead of her if she wants the team to turn things around this season.
The Warhawks will get a chance to redeem this loss 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at Valdosta State.
