(Mesa, AZ) The Park University Gilbert volleyball team got its conference season off to a solid start with a 3-0 (25-15, 27-25, 25-19) win over Providence Christian College at Legacy Sports Park.
The Buccaneers (3-4, 1-0) have now won three matches in a row after starting the season 0-4. Providence Christian falls to 3-3, 0-1).
The Buccaneers were not as error free as they were last week against Justice and Arizona Christian, but as they have in the last three matches, continue to share the wealth in terms of setting distribution. Railey Druxman, Jade Laikona Kyla Knight and Megan Hicks all had 10 or more attacks. Mallory Turner and Porsche Bauer just missed out with nine attacks each.
The Bucs got off to a solid start in the first set jumping out to a 6-2 lead early, before a 7-0 run to take the score to 17-8 and the Bucs cruised home to a 25-15 win. The Bucs had 14 kills to eight for PCC. Druxman had five of the 14 putaways and an ace in the set.
Set two was a lot closer as the Bucs had the lead for most of the set, but at 22-20, PCC went on a 3-0 run to take its first lead since 3-1 early in the frame. The Sea Beggars had two set points at 24-23 and 25-24. But a kill by Turner, and two by Druxman staved off the set points and garnered the Bucs their first set point and Druxman sealed the set with another ace.
It would have been easy for PCC to fold after such a demoralizing set, but it came out strong in the third taking 5-2 and 8-6 leads before the Bucs went on a 4-0 run to take a 10-8 lead and it would be a lead they would not relinquish. A 10-5 run would increase the advantage to seven at 20-13 and the Bucs would saunter home from there to clinch the match 25-19.
Druxman led all players with 12 kills and posted her second consecutive double-double as she added 11 digs. Jade Laikona posted her third consecutive double digit kill game in as many starts as she had 10 kills and hit .348. Mallory Turner added six kills and hit .333.
Daniella Miranda-Johnson (17) and Chloe Thomas (16) combined for 33 of the Bucs 35 assists. Turner led the team with six blocks (1 solo, 5 assists), while Hicks and Bauer each had three rejections.
As a team, the Bucs outhit the Beggars 37-25 and hit .162 to .000. Park finished with eight aces to only five for PCC.
Up next for the Bucs on Saturday, September 9 is a hot Saint Katherine squad who had a five-set victory over Embry Riddle tonight and takes on Benedictine Mesa on tomorrow. The match with USK is a 2 p.m. at Legacy Sports Park.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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