GLENDALE, Ariz. – Riding an efficient offensive effort and a stifling defense, the OUAZ men's volleyball team opened Golden State Athletic Conference play with a 3-0 sweep of Arizona Christian on Friday night at the Dream City School.
 
While they needed just 34 kills to secure the 25-20, 25-10, 25-15 sweep of their crosstown rivals, OUAZ (2-0, 1-0 GSAC) hit .413 with no more than four hitting errors in any of the sets. The forced Arizona Christian (0-1, 0-1) to negative-.081 hitting with only 17 kills in the match.
 
The Spirit only trailed for the early moments of the opening set before scoring eight straight points in the frame. The remainder of the match featured just one tie and no lead changes.
 
Quad King led the OUAZ attack with 11 kills on a .556 hitting night. His 18 attacks included just one hitting error while he also tallied three digs and one block. James Yahner and Blake Music added seven kills and three blocks apiece.
 
OUAZ had 19 digs, seven service aces, and five blocks in the win. Joaquin Santa Cruz had a team-best seven digs and he joined Yahner and Conner Duyck with two aces each.
 
The Spirit will next head back to Palos Heights, Ill., where they look to defend their NCCAA National Championship as the top seed at next week's event. They begin their title defense against Maranatha Baptist on January 24 at 3 p.m. (AZ).