(Glendale, AZ) The Park University Gilbert volleyball team ended its non-conference season gaining a bit of revenge against Arizona Christian winning a tough match 3-1 (25-21, 25, 27, 25-18, 25-18) at the Firestorm Recreation Center.
The Buccaneers reversed the score they lost to the Firestorm earlier just last week and finish the non-conference season 2-4 but enter conference play on a two-match winning streak.
The Buccaneers won a first set where the difference was negligible on the stat sheet. Both squads had 14 kills, the Bucs had one fewer attack error (3-4) and the Firestorm had six more attacks (38-32). Park had one more ace and one more service error (3-2). The difference in the set came with a 6-0 run when the Bucs were down 6-7 to take a 13-7 lead. ACU was able to close the gap to one at 20-19. But the Bucs finished with a 5-2 run to close out the set.
Set two was also as tight as a boa constrictor as neither team had a lead larger than three points throughout the set. ACU had the advantage early, then Park Gilbert responded and led midway through the period. Ultimately, Arizona Christian regained the lead and was able to hold off the Bucs en route to a 27-25 win. ACU had three more kills in the set (17-14) which turned out to be the difference in the set.
Undaunted, the Buccos responded in the third and fourth sets with an impressive showing, winning both sets easily 25-18. The Bucs played solid, mostly error-free volleyball, while the Firestorm made over triple the attack errors over the final two frames. ACU had more kills (26-25) than Park in the final to sets, but the Bucs only had three errors compared to 16 for the Firestorm.
Sophomore Railey Druxman posted her first double-double of the season leading the team with 14 kills and was second on the squad 14 digs. Freshmna Jade Laikona had her second consecutive double digit kill game with 11 kills and hit .333, while sophomore opposite Kyla Knight set a career high with 11 kills and hit an impressive .667.
Daniella Miranda-Johnson led the team with 24 assists, while Chloe Thomas, seeing her most significant action of the season added 22 helpers. Lexi Golleher led the team with 15 digs. Sophomore middle Mallory Turner had four blocks.
Overall, as a team, the Bucs had 53 kills on the afternoon with only 11 errors and hit .328. ACU had 57 kills, but made 26 errors and hit .197.
The Bucs now enter conference play as they host Providence Christian and Saint Katherine next week on Thursday, September 7 and 9 at Legacy Sports Park. The Bucs own a 5-0 record against PCC all-time and a 7-1 mark against USK, with the only loss coming in five sets last season.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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