SURPRISE, Ariz. – Playing at home for the final time this season, the OUAZ women's volleyball team came out with an effort to remember as they defeated Menlo College in four sets on Saturday afternoon at Willow Canyon High School.
OUAZ (12-11, 7-8 GSAC) honored its six seniors prior to the start and the emotion carried over into a dominating first set performance. After things settled in, Menlo (12-7, 9-6) was able to take the second set before the Spirit battled to win 25-16, 17-25, 25-23, 25-22.
That opening set started with OUAZ on a 9-1 run that included three service aces from senior
Kelsey Marchant. After leading the entire first set, the Spirit played through six ties and three lead changes in the second before a late run by Menlo allowed them to pull away to even the match.
The third set went back-and-forth early before senior
Gianna Kioa recorded three kills during a 5-2 run by OUAZ that opened up an early five-point cushion. They were able to ride that advantage to win the set in part to three straight service errors from the Oaks to end the frame.
Menlo opened the fourth set with a 5-1 run and they extended the lead to 17-13. The OUAZ seniors responded again as
Jorie Mayfield and
Jessica Youngberg combined for five straight kills to help get the Spirit even at 20-20. Mayfield would then tally a kill and a block in the final three points to secure the needed home win.
Mayfield had a stellar afternoon with 17 kills, seven blocks, and six digs. She hit .150 for the match and posted four kills in the fourth set to make sure the Spirit won her final home match.
OUAZ ended the day with 54 kills and hitting .163. They had nine aces as a team and used 12 blocks to limit Menlo to .142 hitting and 46 kills. The Spirit also recorded 92 digs to just 74 from the Oaks.
Kioa added 11 kills for her fifth straight match in double figures.
Austin Edwards had nine kills and Youngberg chipped eight kills and six blocks.
Marchant finished the day with five aces and 14 digs.
Seleni Bartley led all players with 26 digs while
Rachel Kater had 40 assists and 11 digs.
Menlo got 14 kills from Sofia Salim and 22 digs from Lucyanna Herrera.
The win has OUAZ in seventh-place in the GSAC standings with three conference matches to play. They are back in action on Monday when they travel across town to face SAGU American Indian College at 6 p.m.
