OUAZ Athletics

SPIRIT TAKE TWO IN SAN MARCOS

8/31/2023 10:05:00 PM

The OUAZ Spirit took two matches in the USK Labor Day Tournament on Thursday.  They began the day with a five-set win over UC Merced and then wrapped the day up with a three-set sweep of La Sierra at the USK Sports Complex in San Marcos, Calif.
 
In the first ever match against the Bobcats (1-7), the Spirit (4-3) took the first two sets by 25-14 and 25-23 scores.  UCM took the third and fourth sets 27-25 and 25-22 to set up the winner-take-all fifth set.  A set that the Orange and Red would take 15-12 for the win.
 
Cristal Carrizoza would get a double-double with 22 sets and 11 digs.  Kenzie Kuxhaus would register 30 digs and a pair of assists in the match.  Rylie Henige had a match-high 13 kills while Lauren Wamsley would get 11.  Nine Spirit players would get at least one kill in the match.  All but one player for OUAZ would register a dig in the match as well.
 
Immediately following the UC Merced match, the Spirit would take on La Sierra (0-6) and win in a sweep by scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-19.
 
Rylie would once again pace the Spirit with 10 kills to pull her to within one kill of leading the team on the season.  Carrizoza would add 27 more assists to her season total in the match that was the first ever against La Sierra.  OUAZ hit a very impressive .295 in the match.  That also saw them with a season-high 13 service aces.
 
The team will continue their time in San Diego County as they take on Carroll College out of Montana.  The Saints (4-4) defeated the Spirit in the only other time the two teams have faced last year in Montana.
 
After finishing the USK Labor Day Tournament on Saturday, the team will shift their focus to the final non-conference match against Justice College in Chandler on Wednesday.  Then just two days later, they will begin GSAC play in Northern California at Jessup University and Menlo College on Sept. 8 and 9.  They will return to Faith Arena on Sept. 15 and 16 when The Master's and Life Pacific come to Surprise.  Get your tickets now on the Hometown Tickets App or by clicking here.