(Scottsdale, AZ) The Pima Community College volleyball team (12-17) opened play at the NJCAA Region I, Division II Tournament on Thursday at Scottsdale Community College.
The No. 3 seeded Aztecs fell to No. 2 Chandler-Gilbert Community College in straight sets 25-15, 25-19, 25-23. The Aztecs will play in a consolation match on Friday.
Sophomore Abby Whatton’s (Canyon del Oro HS) kill cut Pima’s deficit to 10-9 in the first set, but the Coyotes scored four straight points to take a 14-9 advantage. The Coyotes scored another three straight points towards the end of the game to take the first set.
Whatton had a kill and followed it up with an ace to match Pima’s lead at 14-11 in the second set but the Coyotes scored 10 of the next 12 points to take the lead at 21-16. The Aztecs cut the deficit to four points at 22-18 but could not get any closer as they trailed 2-0 in the match.
The Aztecs and the Coyotes went back-and-forth in the third set as neither team held an advantage by more than four points for much of the set. Chandler-Gilbert was up 20-16 but the Aztecs fought back with a kill from freshman Taylor Crawford (Ironwood Ridge HS) and two straight aces by freshman Jasmin Joseph (Tanque Verde HS) forcing the Coyotes to use a timeout. Whatton’s kill tied it at 20-20.
The Aztecs took the lead when Crawford put down a kill and freshman Kenna Simon had two straight kills of her own to make it 23-21. The Coyotes scored four straight points to win the set and the match.
Whatton finished the match with 10 kills, nine digs, two blocks and one ace while freshman Haylee Gilleland (Flagstaff HS) closed out the match with seven kills.
Sophomore Sasha Ross (Canyon del Oro HS) posted five kills, 10 digs and two blocks and Crawford had 22 assists, eight digs and five kills.
Sophomore Morgan Hains (Canyon del Oro HS) finished with 18 digs and Joseph had three aces.
The Aztecs will play in a consolation match on Friday at 11:00 a.m. Their opponent will be the loser of the No. 1 Scottsdale Community College/No. 4 Glendale Community College match from Thursday evening.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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