(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert men’s volleyball team dropped its season opener to Arizona Christian University 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-16) at Bell Bank Park. This was the opening contest for both teams.
Both teams struggled on serve with each team making 17 service errors. But the difference in the match was the Firestorm offense as they had 10 more kills (35-25), five more aces (7-2) and five fewer errors (10-15) then the Bucs. The Firestorm also hit a very efficient .362 to only .147 for Buccaneers.
In the first set the Bucs jumped out to a 5-2 lead right out of the gate, but a 6-1 ACU run put the visitors in front for good. ACU had 13 kills in the set to only seven for Park as they cruised to a 25-18 first set triumph.
The second set was close early, but ACU took a 9-6 lead and never allowed the Bucs to get any closer than three points the remainder of the set. Eight service errors and eight attack errors in the set hampered any momentum the Bucs tried to build.
The final set saw a see-saw battle for the first 17 points, but at 9-8, ACU went on a 7-1 run to break the set open. Park could not recover and ACU finished off the set 25-16.
Ben Turcinec had nine kills to lead the team, but also had no attack errors to hit .000. Senior middle blocker Nathan Smith making his first career start, had five kills and hit .444. Setter Hunter Miller had 22 assists along with three kills in five attempts with no errors.
The Bucs do not have long to lick their wounds from this match as they are back on the court tomorrow night February 2 as they take on Lees-McRae College at 5 p.m. at Bell Bank Park.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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