(Chandler, AZ) The Park University Gilbert volleyball team dropped a conference road game tonight against Benedictine Mesa 3-0 (22-25, 11-25, 19-25) at the Coyotes Center at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, Ariz. The Buccaneers fall to 5-7 overall and 3-3 in the Cal Pac. Benedictine moves to 12-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
The first set saw the Buccaneers in a tight battle with the teams exchanging the lead over the course of the set. The Bucs jumped ahead early before the Redhawks retook the lead and seemed to be in cruise control at 21-15 before a 7-0 Buccaneer run put the visitors up 22-21. But Park was not able to capitalize on the momentum as BENU answered with its own 4-0 run to take the set 25-22. Both teams had seven attack errors in the set, but Park Gilbert only had seven kills, while the BENU posted 12.
The second set saw a drop off in all production from the Bucs as an early 8-0 Redhawk run gave the home team a comfortable lead and the Bucs were not able to answer losing the second stanza handily 25-11. Again, the Bucs had as many errors as they had kills in the set, while Benedictine cut down on its miscues putting away 12 kills to only four errors. The 11 points scored is the second fewest points the Bucs have scored in a 25-point set in its history having done it three times total, the last time just last year on Aug. 19, 2022, against Concordia (Neb.). The lowest total is 10 points against Embry Riddle in the Bucs inaugural season.
The third set was much more competitive as the two squads stayed neck and neck over the first 26 points of the match. Knotted at 13-all, the Redhawks went on a 4-0 run which gave them a cushion which they held onto for the remainder of the set and finished off the match with a 25-19 third set triumph. Park hit a solid .217 in the set with nine kills to only four errors.
What ultimately hurt the Bucs was a lack of offensive production, as they only managed 22 kills in the match compared to 38 for the Redhawks. Errors and attacks were virtually the same 17 and 84 for Park, 16 and 86 for BENU.
Park Gilbert will look to turn things around on Saturday, Sept. 23 as they return home to host Embry Riddle at Legacy Sports Park in Mesa, Ariz. starting at 4 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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