(Prescott, AZ) After a devastating five-set loss to Benedictine Mesa Thursday, the Park University Gilbert volleyball team got back on the winning track with a 3-0 win at Embry Riddle (8-9, 5-4) in Prescott, Ariz., Friday night. With the win, the Buccaneers (14-7, 7-3) solidify their spot in third place in the conference. This was also the first 3-0 win for the Buccaneers over the Eagles. This was the first straight set win for Park Gilbert over Embry Riddle.
Last season, Park Gilbert had never beaten Embry Riddle, having lost to the Eagles two times in its inaugural season by 3-0 scores each time. In 2021, the Bucs and Eagles split the four matches they played with Embry winning in straight sets in its two wins and Park winning in five sets in the regular season and four sets for the Cal Pac Championship.
The first set saw the Eagles take a slim 5-3 lead early before the Bucs went on a 7-0 run to take control of the set. The Bucs would work comfortably through the rest of the set with the Eagles only able to cut the deficit to three at 14-11 before another 6-0 run put the set out of reach for good.
The second set saw the Buccaneers jump out quickly 10-4 and held a 19-11 lead before Embry Riddle made a big 10-2 run to cut the deficit to one 22-21. But after a time out, two kills, one by Maggie Scranton the other by Makenna Busse plus a solo block by Railey Druxman put the second stanza away and put the Bucs on the brink of a historic win.
The third set was a back-and-forth battle with each team making runs. The Bucs started with a 7-3 run to begin the frame, followed by a 9-2 run by ERAU to take a 12-9 advantage. The Bucs returned the favor with its own 9-3 run to retake the lead at 18-15. It was a lead the Bucs would not relinquish, but not without putting a few more gray hairs onto the heads of the Buccaneer faithful. The Eagles would make a 4-2 run to cut the deficit to one, but two quick points by the Bucs moved their advantage to three and that total would be the final margin of victory.
Statistically, each team had 86 attacks, but Park Gilbert won the kills battle 39-30, had fewer errors (16-19) and more service aces and digs.
Individually, Scranton led the Bucs with 10 kills, her fourth double-digit kills match of the season and she hit a season high .571. Amanda Jonovich was right behind with eight kills while Miranda Bacon and Mallory Turner had seven and six kills, respectively. Both players only had one error on the night. Jenifer Lauer had 13 assists to lead the Bucs setting triumvirate, and Hattie Patton had 13 digs to lead the defensive charge.
The Buccaneers now get a short respite before returning to action as they do not play another match for 13 days. Park Gilbert will return to the court on October 13-15 on the road as they travel back to California to take on Saint Katherine, Providence Christian and Westcliff in rematches from just two weeks ago at home. The Buccaneers won in straight sets against USK and PCC but fell in four to WU.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
