(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College volleyball team (0-4) was involved in a back and forth contest on Monday at Eastern Arizona College.
The Aztecs forced a tiebreaker but fell in the final set; losing 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 25-17, 25-27, 15-11).
The Aztecs and the Gila Monsters traded points to begin the final set. With the game nodded at 6-6, the Gila Monsters scored three straight points to take the advantage. The Aztecs cut the deficit to 10-9 but Eastern Arizona scored another three straight forcing the Aztecs to use their second timeout trailing 13-9. The Aztecs cut it back to two points at 13-11 but the Gila Monsters scored the final two points of the match.
After dropping the first set, the Aztecs took the lead in the second set and held as much as a three-point advantage on a few occasions. Tied at 18-18, sophomore Eve Pearson (Canyon del Oro HS) put down a kill and freshman Isabella Jacome had an ace to make it 20-18. Up 20-19, Pearson and sophomore Bergen Campbell had back-to-back kills to give Pima some breathing room at 22-19. Campbell had the final kill to tie the match at 1-1.
The Aztecs fell in the third set and found themselves behind down 16-11 in the fourth game. Pima went on to score 10 of the next 12 points to take a 21-18 lead after Pearson’s kill capped it off. The Gila Monsters rallied with four straight to put the Aztecs down 22-21 but that’s the last time Pima trailed in the set. There were four ties to follow but the Aztecs won it in the end tying the match at 2-2.
Campbell led the way with 13 kills and 18 digs while sophomore Aydalis Felix (Rincon HS) posted 26 digs. Jacome finished with 16 assists, seven digs and three aces and Pearson had seven kills and 10 digs. Sophomore Holly Stutz (Cienega HS) and freshman Kaylee Moseley (Marana HS) combined for 15 blocks. Freshman Karla Soto (Nogales HS) had 10 assists.
The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium on Wednesday when they host the Gila Monsters at 7:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Athletics – Raymond Suarez
