(Riverside, CA) The Park University Gilbert volleyball team did what it was supposed to do against La Sierra tonight winning in straight sets 3-0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-21) but it was by no means an easy walk in the park for the Bucs against a winless Eagles squad. Park Gilbert moves to 5-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play after taking two of three on this road trip.
In the first set, the Bucs seeming had the set under control leading by as man as seven points. La Sierra would not go away cutting the lead from 18-11 to 18-16. Then after the Bucs took a 22-19 lead, the Eagles won three consecutive points to tie the match and force a Buccaneer time out. Park would win the next three points behind a Makayla Simmons ace and Jade Laikona kill to take the set.
The second set was a back-and-forth affair with La Sierra jumping out to a 7-1 lead early. Park would respond and would claw its way back to a 10-all tie. Then it stayed close throughout the remainder of the set. Park would hold the lead 19-17, but a 4-0 run by LSU put them up by two. Park would tie things at 23-23, but a Mallory Turner error gave LSU a set point. The Bucs went right back to the sophomore middle blocker Turner who got the kill to start a 3-0 run which included a block by Megan Hicks and Kyla Knight and an ace by Simmons to clinch it.
While the final score of the third set was only four points, the Buccaneers never trailed in the final frame as they finished off the match. The Bucs played a clean set with 14 kills and only two errors to hit .308 in the set.
Park had three players with double-digit kills led by Turner who had 12 kills and hit .409. She also led the team with five blocks. Railey Druxman also had 12 kills on the night, hitting .235 while Laikona finished with 11 putaways, no errors and hit .423.
Simmons led all players with five aces, while Daniella Miranda-Johnson led the team with 20 assists. Lexi Golleher (13) and Simmons (11) led the team in digs.
As a team, Park had more kills (42-34) and fewer attack errors (14-17), while outhitting LSU .243 to.155.
The Bucs return to Arizona but stay on the road as they take on host Benedictine Mesa next Thursday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Coyote Center at Chandler Gilbert Community College.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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