SURPRISE, Ariz. - The Ottawa University Arizona women's volleyball team fell on Wednesday evening to Hope International University by a final of 3-0. Final scores were: 25-16, 25-16, and 25-18.
With the loss the spirit move on with the record 3-7.
"I continue to see improvement, as our girls get more comfortable with playing each other.," said Head Coach Kristin Steele. "Hope International is a good GSAC team. Their defense was some of the best I've seen. We've had some unfortunate luck with our setters recently, so it was good to see Breelle Lugo (SO/Tempe, AZ) back on the court. Carlee Beck (SO/Des Moines, Iowa) did a good job stepping in to set. We will continue to focus on controlling what we can control and working on building our team dynamic."
In game one of the match the Royals of Hope International University started out strong, gaining the lead early relying on their strong defense to set up their offense. The Royals went on to hold the lead and win the game 25-16. Game two started the same way with the Royals taking the early lead, but in the middle of the game the Spirit made a push to bring the score to 18-15, within 3 points of the leader. The Royals responded with 7-1 run and finished the game 25-16. Game three the Royals led, and the Spirit made their mid-game push to narrow the score to 16-15, before the Royals went on their 9-1 run to finish the game and the match 25-18.
Kill leaders for the Spirit was Jorie Mayfield (JR/Tempe, AZ) with six kills, Kylie Greenway (SO/Riverside, CA) followed with four, and Halei Sanders (FR/Peoria, AZ), Gilly Muniz (SO/Westminster, CO), and Nicole Newman (FR/Avondale, AZ) finished the match with three kills each. Carlee Beck and Breelle Lugo split assists with nine and eight respectively. Nicole Newman and Kelsey Marchant (JR/Powell, WY) each had an ace for the match.
The Spirit look to rebound against Vanguard University on Saturday, September 23. The game will be hosted at Valley Vista HS and the time has been changed from 7:00pm at 8:00pm Saturday evening.
To see the entire Women's Volleyball Schedule, please click here.
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About Ottawa University
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity within a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution serving 3,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Phoenix, Queen Creek and Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; Jeffersonville, Ind.; as well as online. For more information, visit www.ottawa.edu.
For more information about OUAZ athletics, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/athletics. Follow OUAZ athletics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OUAZSpiritAthletics/ and on Twitter twitter.com/OUAZSpirit.
