SURPRISE, Ariz. – History was made on Friday night as the OUAZ women's volleyball team recorded the first Golden State Athletic Conference win for any team at the school with a 3-1 defeat of Hope International at Willow Canyon High School.
 
OUAZ (4-4, 1-2 GSAC) had one of the best statistical nights in school history to secure a 25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 25-21 victory. They battled Hope International (7-8, 2-1) through a match that featured 26 ties and nine lead changes.
 
The Spirit welcomes Gianna Kioa to the lineup and the team went for 54 kills and .236 hitting. The kills total is the third-most in a match in team history and the record for a 4-set match. They posted at least 14 kills in each of the three sets they won, including 16 kills and .324 hitting to close out the victory.
 
Kioa's season debut didn't disappoint as she led the Spirit with 18 kills and three service aces. She hit .280 on 50 attacks while adding six digs and two assists.
 
Having another hitter opened things open for other Spirit players as well. Jorie Mayfield added 11 kills and Seleni Bartley tied a season-high with nine kills and Asha Harris set a career-high with eight kills.
 
OUAZ totaled eight service aces as a team and they recorded 59 digs and seven blocks. That helped the Spirit fight off 58 kills and .223 hitting from HIU.
 
Rachel Kater set a school record with 45 assists during a night she also tallied four kills, four blocks, four digs, and two aces. Her four blocks tied with Jessica Youngberg for the team lead.
 
Kelsey Marchant had her second 20-plus dig match of the year with 27. Bartley added 11 digs.
 
Camryn Rowell led the Royals with 20 kills while Jalyssa Sanchez added 10.
 
OUAZ has a quick turnaround as they are back at Willow Canyon High School on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host Life Pacific College in last of their five-match homestand.