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OUAZ Athletics

Chelsea Taylor - October 13, 2021
2
Arizona Christian ACU 12-7, 3-7 GSAC
3
Winner OUAZ OUAZ 16-2, 9-1 GSAC
Arizona Christian ACU
12-7, 3-7 GSAC
2
Final
3
OUAZ OUAZ
16-2, 9-1 GSAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Arizona Christian ACU 18 25 27 17 8 (2)
OUAZ OUAZ 25 23 25 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Spirit Rally for Another Five-Set Victory

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The queens of the five-set match did it again on Wednesday night as No. 20 OUAZ overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat Arizona Christian in five sets to begin the second half of the conference schedule.

After taking the first set as they had in all but one home match this season, OUAZ (16-2, 9-1 GSAC) dropped the following two sets to face a 2-1 deficit for just the third time this season. The Spirit would turn things around in the final two sets to earn the 25-18, 23-25, 25-27, 25-17, 15-8 win.

The win improved the Spirit to 6-1 in five-set matches this season, and they have won 11 of the last 12 matches to go the distance dating back to the 2019 season. It also moved the team within one win of tying the program record for wins in a season.

It would be the high-powered offense that would turn the tide on Wednesday as the Spirit recorded 23 kills in the final two sets to carry them to a 59-49 edge for the match. OUAZ hit .175 overall but hit .246 combined in the last two sets.

Kate Pestova was the top option for the Spirit as she finished with a match-high 19 kills and 21 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. She also surpassed Avie Butsko to become the program's all-time leader with 544 career kills.

Chelsea Taylor added 12 kills on .320 hitting from the middle, with Brooklyn Rainer recording nine kills and Livia De Pra posting eight. Butsko contributed seven kills as well.

And while the offense was dictating the finish, the Spirit defense also did its part in holding Arizona Christian (12-7, 3-7) to just 14 kills in the final two sets. ACU hit .101 for the match with 32 errors, and the Spirit recorded 72 digs and seven blocks.

Valentina Trovato followed the 21 digs from Pestova with 18 of her own. Cristal Carrizoza had 14 digs to go with 44 assists and three aces. Rainer led the team with five blocks, with Taylor getting four blocks and Butsko three.

OUAZ had an 11-9 advantage in aces, with De Pra and Pestova matching Carrizoza with three apiece.

Kaeleigh Gibson and McKenzie Omoruyi led the Firestorm with 11 kills each.

The Spirit now gets a mini-break before returning to action on October 22 when they host William Jessup at Faith Arena.
 
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