SURPRISE, Ariz. – In their third match of a five-match homestand, the OUAZ women's volleyball team was swept in three sets by their Arizona rivals Embry-Riddle on Wednesday night at Willow Canyon High School.
 
OUAZ (4-11) overcame a slow start in the opening set before giving themselves chances in the next two sets before falling 25-14, 25-17, 25-20. Embry-Riddle (16-5) battled through 14 ties and five lead changes for remain perfect in five all-time matches against the Spirit.
 
The visiting Eagles used a balanced offensive attack that totaled 44 kills on .337 hitting to hold the Spirit off. OUAZ totaled just 33 kills on .163 hitting after just seven kills in the first set.
 
Sharron Wallace led the Spirit with a season-high 11 kills – her second double-digit kill match of the season – while hitting .200 with a pair of blocks. Avie Butsko added eight kills on .400 hitting and Austin Edwards ended with seven kills.
 
The Spirit recorded 37 digs and six blocks in defeat. Leni Bartley led the team with 10 digs and Skyler Traut had four blocks.
 
Embry-Riddle would finish with an 8-3 advantage in service aces while adding 41 digs and five blocks.
 
OUAZ closes the homestand with a pair of GSAC matches over the weekend. That starts at 7 p.m. on Friday when they host Life Pacific.