Wiesbaden's Briahna Arroyo goes for a block of a spike by Ramstein's Lauren Meusel during a match on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Warrior Aniyah Brown, left, tries to help her teammate at the net. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – The Ramstein girls volleyball entered Saturday in unfamiliar territory.

With a league record at 4-4, the Royals sat in the back part of the Division I standings.

That wasn’t going to do.

They had the chance to change that when Vilseck and Wiesbaden, the two teams directly above them, came to town.

And Ramstein aced the test. The Royal swept the Warriors 25-21, 25-17, 25-11 and followed that with a hard-fought, four-set victory over the Falcons 25-21, 25-12, 23-25, 25-23.

“This is our house,” Ramstein coach Kandel Baxter said. “We wanted to send a message that our record doesn’t reflect who we are, and our goal is to be the last one standing at the end of the season.”

The victory over Wiesbaden (6-4, 5-4) was especially satisfying for Baxter, who said the Royals (6-4, 6-4) were seeking redemption from a five-set loss earlier this campaign.

Ramstein, meanwhile, is focusing on peaking at the right time with a run heading into the European tournament in less than two weeks.

“We set a goal to win these few matches, and I think we’re well on track,” Ramstein’s Isabella Johnson said.

Wiesbaden's Nicole Suh hits the ball at the net while Ramstein's Ella Yost goes for the block during an Oct. 19, 2024, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Callum Cristobal digs a ball during a match against Wiesbaden on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden's Nicole Suh bumps the ball over the net during a match against Ramstein on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Noelle Murphy serves during a match against Wiesbaden on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Ella Yost, left, and Noelle Murphy jump at the net while Vilseck's Audrey Bird spikes the ball during a match on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Ella Yost attempts to tip the ball over Vilseck's Kaitlyn Brewer during a match on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein was headed for a perfect day early in the third set of the match against the Falcons (8-3, 4-2). The Royals enjoyed a 2-0 set advantage and led 6-0 early in the third.

Yet Vilseck chipped away at the deficit, eventually taking a 20-18 lead after a dink from Bella Smith. The teams went back and forth the rest of the set before the Falcons recorded the last two points to force a fourth set.

Even in the fourth set, Vilseck didn’t bow out quietly. Trailing 23-17, the visitors went on a 5-1 run with a chance to serve to extend the set and possibly the match. But a serving error ended the match.

Offensively, Ella Yost, and Amaya Payton paved the way in the fourth set with four and three kills respectively.

“We just had to refocus and go back to the game plan,” Baxter said.

For the Falcons, Saturday proved to be a test for what Vilseck coach Brian Swenty called his best team since 2019. They faced off with the 2023 finalists and held their own by going 1-1 on the day, beating the Warriors 26-24, 25-12, 25-23.

Against the Warriors, Vilseck scored the final four points of the first set with junior outside hitter Sophie Fedorisin producing a dink and Kaitlyn Brewer blocking an attack for a point to spark the run.

The Falcons never trailed by more than five points the rest of the match.

Then, against the Royals, their coach said he liked their bounce back after the second set in which nothing went right.

“I was a little nervous, and I admitted that to (the players) as well,” Swenty said. “We beat the defending champions 3-0 in a difficult match that was tough, and to turn around play right away after that … you got to be pretty proud of that.”

Wiesbaden is keeping its head high after a pair of losses, according to assistant coach Tariq Zangana.

“Every game we look to improve, whether it’s play style, mentality,” he said. “Some days are ours, some days are not, but we always try to keep a positive vibe.”

After Saturday, Ramstein showed its credentials heading into the European tournament. While admitting they still have plenty of ways to go to reach their peaks, the Royals have high hopes they can go far.

“I definitely think we’ve got a good shot,” Johnson said. “We just need to keep practicing and working hard, and we should be able to accomplish great things.”

Ramstein’s Isabella Johnson spikes the ball while Vilseck’s Kaitlyn Brewer, left, and Hannah Wayland defend during an Oct. 19, 2024, match at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck's Emaline Overton spikes the ball as Ramstein's Isabella Johnson tries to block it during a match on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck's Audrey Bird sets the ball during a match against Wiesbaden on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck’s Emaline Overton braces for impact from an attack by Ramstein’s Ella Yost during a match on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Vilseck's Bella Smith receives a serves during a match against Wiesbaden on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden's Kayla Mckee serves during a match against Vilseck on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden libero Yasmine David drops to a knee to dig over a ball during a match against Vilseck on Oct. 19, 2024, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Watching, left, is teammate Kayla Mckee. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)