Women's Volleyball 8/18/2021 1:00:00 PM

Women's Volleyball Notes -- Week 1

THE INVITATIONAL
OUAZ (0-0, 0-0 GSAC) begins the program's fifth season by playing three matches at the OUAZ Invitational. The Spirit will open on Thursday when they face Wayland Baptist (0-0, 0-0 SAC) in Faith Arena at 6 p.m. They will continue on Saturday against Montana State-Northern (0-0, 0-0 Frontier) at 6 p.m. and Embry-Riddle (1-2, 0-0 Cal Pac) at 8 p.m. Complete OUAZ Invitational coverage is available at OUAZSpirit.com/ouazinvite.

OUAZ AT HOME
In the four-year history of the program, OUAZ has posted an 18-18 record at home. That includes a 4-2 mark since moving into Faith Arena at the end of the 2019 season. The Spirit went 4-1 at home in the spring and they have won two straight in Faith Arena.

ABOUT THE SPIRIT
In completing the most successful season in program history during the spring season, OUAZ closed the year by winning seven of its final 10 matches.

That run earned the Spirit a 10-6 overall record and a second-place finish in the GSAC East Division by finishing 7-3 in conference play.

OUAZ was picked to finish third in the GSAC this season after receiving 65 points in the preseason poll released by the conference last week.

The 2021 squad returns 12 letter winners from last season, including five starters and the libero.

OUAZ set the program record by averaging 12.70 kills per set last season. They finished the year ranked 38th in the NAIA in the category.

The final rankings from last season also saw the Spirit rank 25th in digs per set (18.98) and 27th in both assists per set (11.94) and service aces per set (1.92).

LEADING THE PACK
After being named Third Team NAIA All-American last season – the program's first All-American – Kate Pestova returns to lead the Spirit offense in 2021.

Pestova averaged 3.90 kills per set last season to set the OUAZ record and finish 22nd in the NAIA. She tallied 246 kills overall while hitting .202.

She enters the season having recorded 10-plus kills in 16 consecutive matches – another program record – while twice posting at least 20 kills.

ANCHORING THE DEFENSE
Valentina Trovato is back this season to anchor the OUAZ defense from her libero position. Trovato was an All-GSAC selection and NCCAA Third Team All-America last season.

Trovato was 28th in the NAIA by averaging a school-record 5.52 digs per set. Her 342 total digs were the third-most for a single season in program history.

She had 14 matches with 10-plus digs – including the final 11 of the season – and her season featured 10 matches of at least 20 digs and three times above 30.

SETTING THE TONE
Cristal Carrizoza returns to run the offense after averaging 5.54 assists per set in the spring. She posted eight matches with 20-plus assists.

Carrizoza was stellar in the serving game where she ranked 11th in the country by averaging 0.56 aces per set. Her 35 aces finished as the third-most in program history.

Carrizoza had at least one ace in all but two matches during the season and she posted multiple aces eight times, including a program-record 10 at William Jessup on March 10.

STOPPING THE OPPONENT
Chelsea Taylor is also back this season after leading the Spirit with 63 blocks last season. Her 1.00 blocks per set average established a new program record.

Taylor recorded a block in 15 of the 16 matches she played and had 3-plus blocks in a match 10 times.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Cristal Carrizoza: S; 5' 9"; Junior

#13 Kate Pestova: OH; 5' 10"; Senior

#18 Chelsea Taylor: MB/OPP; 5' 11"; Senior

#2 Valentina Trovato: L; 5' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#17 Cristal Carrizoza
: 5' 9"; Junior
: S

#13 Kate Pestova
: 5' 10"; Senior
: OH

#18 Chelsea Taylor
: 5' 11"; Senior
: MB/OPP

#2 Valentina Trovato
: 5' 6"; Senior
: L