(Redding, CA) This was a record setting weekend for the Park University Gilbert volleyball team and tonight’s contest with Simpson University was no different. The Buccaneers completed their three-match northern California road trip with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-5, 25-12) win in Redding, Calif. Junior defensive specialist Jessi Medlin was a serving specialist tonight setting the school record for aces in a match with nine, besting the previous record of six set by a number of players.
So far on this trip the Buccaneers set the tone in the first set winning the opening frame only allowing eight points to Pacific Union and nine points to UC Merced. Simpson had other ideas. This was the closest set of the weekend for Park Gilbert as they had to stave off a set point after a controversial officiating call on what looked to be a hitting error and a fourth touch on Simpson. But after the officials discussed the situation, they gave the point to Simpson. Park had an answer. Three straight points via a kill from Railey Druxman, a block from Maggie Scranton and Makenna Busseand a service ace from Hattie Patton gave the Buccaneers the first set.
Set number two was record setting in a number of ways. First the Buccaneers tied the mark for fewest points allowed in a set with five. The Buccaneers held Pacific Union to only five points back in the 2020-21 season. Second, Medlin set a record for the most consecutive points won in a row on serve with 15, besting the previous record of 10 set by Autumn Wood back in the Pacific Union match. Medlin came to the service line at 3-1. When she left the score was 18-1. She had five of her school record nine aces in this run.
The third set was much the same as the Bucs jumped out to a 14-3 lead as they cruised to an easy 25-12 third set win. This time it was a 7-0 run off the arm of Patton on serve that broke the set open.
The Bucs continued their dominance of the stat sheet as they posted 37 kills to only 24 for Simpson, but 15 of those came in the tight first set. The Bucs hit .420 for the match, its second-best percentage of the weekend (.431 at PUC). Park had 14 aces, nine from Medlin, four from Patton and one from Melissa Blockey.
Amanda Jonovich led all players with 10 kills. Scranton was right behind with seven kills and hit .500. Eight of the Buccaneer 11 players in the match had at least one kill and hit .300 or better. The three who did not were back row players Medlin and Patton and setter Annika Wallace. Druxman led Park with 13 digs and Mallory Turner led all players with four blocks.
The Buccaneers now return home to face in state rival Benedictine Mesa on Thursday, September 29 at 7 p.m. at Bell Bank Park before traveling to Prescott, Ariz. to take on Embry Riddle on Friday, September 30.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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