(Glendale, AZ) The Park University Gilbert volleyball team got its first win of the season and the first win for head coach Stephanie Lindsey in her coaching career at a four-year institution. The Buccaneers were dominant in a 3-0 (25-8, 25-17, 25-11) triumph over Justice College in the Firestorm Labor Day Invitational host by Arizona Christian.
The Bucs got off to a fast start in the first set jumping to a 14-3 lead and never looking back as they cruised to 25-8 first set win. The Bucs had 15 kills in the set, hitting .387. The Bucs also add seven service aces.
Set two saw the Bucs level dip a little early in the set and the Lions took advantage to keep the set competitive for the first 30 points in the set. The Lions even had the lead for a moment in the set at 14-12 and 15-13. But the Bucs would step up their intensity and go on a 12-2 run to finish the set and win 25-17. The Bucs had nine attack errors in the frame, six more than set one.
The Bucs took the momentum of the end of the second set and kept it going in the third. Behind 14 kills, the Buccos sauntered home to its first win of the season with a 25-11 third set pasting.
The Buccaneers are still not a full strength as senior opposite Maggie Scranton is still out with an injury, but the Bucs did get freshman outside hitter Jade Laikona back into the lineup today and she made her presence felt in her debut leading the team with 11 kills and hitting .500. Sophomore Railey Druxman added nine kills and 10 digs. Junior Megan Hicks set a career high with nine kills and hit a gaudy .727. Porsche Bauer added six and Kyla Knight made her Bucs debut and posted four kills.
Makayla Simmons led the team with 14 digs and Daniella Miranda-Johnson (19) and Uma Lorentzen (17) combined for 36 of the Bucs 39 assists.
The Bucs outhit the Lions in kills (43+-11), attacks (88-72) and aces (14-4). The 14 aces ties the mark for the fourth highest total in school history. The Bucs had 14 aces twice a year ago against Pacific Union and Simpson.
Park will hit the court again tomorrow afternoon as they get a rematch with Arizona Christian at 1 p.m.. The Firestorm beat the Bucs 3-1 in the season opener last Friday at the OUAZ Invitational.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Preston English
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