(Mesa, AZ) The Pima Community College volleyball team (11-9, 8-3 in ACCAC) hit the road on Friday for an ACCAC conference match at Mesa Community College (12-5, 8-4) in a battle between two NJCAA Division II nationally ranked programs.
The No. 25 ranked Aztecs fell to the No. 21 Thunderbirds in straight sets (25-22, 25-21, 28-26). The two teams have split their regular season meetings so far this season as the Aztecs got the win at Aztec Gymnasium in five sets on Sept. 11.
The Aztecs held a slim lead for half of the first set. Up 15-14, the Aztecs surrendered eight straight points and trailed 22-15. The Thunderbirds had set-point at 24-18 but the Aztecs made it interesting with four straight points to make it 24-22. Mesa scored the ensuing point to take a 1-0 advantage in the match.
The Thunderbirds scored five of the first six points in the second set as the Aztecs were forced to play catch-up. Mesa’s biggest lead was at 18-10 but the Aztecs slowly chipped away. After back-to-back aces, Pima cut the deficit to 23-21 but the Thunderbirds scored the final two points as the Aztecs trailed 2-0.
The Aztecs scored seven of the first nine points in the third set as sophomore Kenna Simon’s block and sophomore Haylee Gilleland’s (Flagstaff HS) kill made it 7-2. Mesa chipped away but Pima was able to hold a one-to-two-point lead. The first tie of the set came at 14-14 and afterwards there were 11 ties total for the game. The Aztecs held set-point on three occasions down the stretch at 24-23, 25-24 and 26-25 but the Thunderbirds rallied and scored the final two points to end it.
Freshman Maggie McReynolds (Mountain View HS) finished the match with a team-high 15 kills to go along with two aces.
Freshman Kendall Snyder (Canyon del Oro HS) closed out the match with five kills and two blocks.
Freshman Addy Fisher (Queen Creek HS) posted three aces.
The Aztecs face another tough test on Wednesday when they play at No. 9 Scottsdale Community College. First volleyball is set for 7:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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