Box Score The OUAZ women's volleyball team extended their winning streak to six matches and were looking for a seventh.  However, due to unsafe playing conditions on the main court at the 2023 USK Labor Day Tournament, the final match never materialized.
 
Rylie Henige had a match-high of 17 kills, no one was even close as the highest for the Falcons was six and Lauren Wamsley had nine for the Spirit.  Cristal Carizoza had 34 assists on the day along with four kills.  Seven players dug the ball for 42 in the match total.  Kenzie Kuxhaus led everyone with 17.  Destinee Gomez and Reannan Bihlmeier each had a pair of service aces additionally.
 
In the first match ever against the Falcons (2-7), the Spirit dominated the match winning 25-13, 25-19, 25-16.  The squad never trailed by more than two points.
 
In the first set, the Falcons jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead.  After a couple of runs by both teams it was 10-all.  OUAZ took control with a 9-1 run to take a 19-11 lead.  In the run, the Orange and Red were very judicious on who got the points.  Two for Wamsley, two for Brittnie Henige and two for Rylie, with a point for Jessica Pearce mixed in as well.  Another trading of points brought it to 21-13.  Wamsley got a kill to bring the serve back to OUAZ.  A pair of aces by Bihlmeier and a dump kill by Carizoza secured the opening set.
 
Friends again got the first two points before the Spirit went on a 6-2 run.  Friends forced it to 8-all and then OUAZ said "Enough"!  They went on an 8-1 run, three points came from Wamsley, another three from Pearce along with another dump kill by Carizoza.  Friends would battle and close to within 19-17.  OUAZ would close with a 5-2 run to capture set two.
 
The final set saw Friends with their largest run of the day going 4-1 to open the set.  They would eventually take a 8-7 lead.  Wamsley tied it up after a kill at 8-all.  Eventually making it 11-all.  That is when the run commenced.  Points by both Brittnie and Rylie Henige an ace from Kuxhaus a couple of attack errors by Friends created a 20-12 opening.  The dynamic duo of Wamsley and Reegan Shoquist teamed up for the final three points of the match (two kills by Wamsley and an ace by Shoquist).
 
The team was scheduled to close out their portion of the tournament with a match against the Univ. of Saint Katherine, however due to unsafe playing conditions caused by too much humidity in the gym, the match was considered a "No Contest".  OUAZ will resume the season with a match at Justice College in Chandler on Wednesday.  Next weekend, the team opens GSAC play with a trip to Northern California to take on Jessup University and Menlo College.
 
Fans are welcomed back to Faith Arena when the team takes on The Master's and Life Pacific on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16.  Tickets can be attained through the Hometown Ticketing App or by clicking here.