(Redding, CA) On an afternoon when the numbers looked to tell a different story, the Park University Gilbert volleyball team dropped a 3-1 (19-25, 26-28, 25-21, 24-26) contest to Simpson. The loss drops the Bucs back to .500 at 12 -12 and evened their conference mark at 10-10.
When you look at the stat sheet, you would think the Buccaneers would have won this match. They had eight more kills (55-47), only one more attack error (22-21) a better hitting percentage (.228-.163) and more digs (75-61) but two tight sets which went past the 25 point mark went the way for the Red Hawks and the match went to the home team.
The first set saw the Bucs struggle offensively, with only nine kills as the Red Hawks won the set easily by six points. But the Bucs tried to answer back in the second.
In the second, the Bucs jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to have it evaporate by 6-all. Then no team had more than a two point lead the rest of the way. The Bucs looked as though they were going to tie the match as they had two set points at 24-22 before a Red Hawk kill and service ace erased the advantage. The Bucs would get two more set points but could not convert as a set error and service error erased those opportunities. Then two more errors an attack error and a receiving error gave the second set to Simpson. The Bucs had 19 kills in the second set to only 11 for Simpson, but the costly errors down the stretch cost them the set.
The third set saw more of the same offensive firepower as the Bucs posted 17 more kills and hit .250 but kept Simpson in the set with seven attack errors. But the Bucs were able to hold on and take the stanza 25-21.
The final set was another barn burner, as neither team had more than a three-point lead at any point in the set. The Bucs once again were on the verge of taking the set as they had a 23-20 lead. But the Red Hawks would win six of the next seven points to take the set and the match.
Railey Druxman continues to show why she was a sought after recruit by the Bucs with her seventh double-double of the season with 17 kills and 16 digs, hitting .250. Mallory Turnercontinues her fantastic offensive season with 13 kills and hitting .375. Maggie Scranton tied her second highest kills total with 12 and hit .267.
Makayla Simmons set a career high for digs and was one off of the school record with 28 digs. Daniella Miranda Johnson tied her career high set yesterday against UC Merced for assists with 42. Kyla Knight set a career high for digs with 11.
Park now returns to Arizona to close out the regular season ahead of the California Pacific Conference Volleyball Championships. They will travel to Prescott, Ariz., to take on Embry Riddle on Thursday, Nov. 2 before closing out the season with Benedictine Mesa on Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. at Legacy Sprots Park.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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