MESA, Ariz. – The OUAZ women's volleyball team showed no signs of slowing down on Friday night, powering past Benedictine Mesa in straight sets to secure their eighth consecutive victory. The Spirit controlled the match from start to finish, combining strong attacking, tough serving, and resilient defense to extend their winning streak and keep their momentum alive in GSAC play.

• Set 1 (25-22): The opening frame was a tight, back-and-forth battle as OUAZ and Benedictine Mesa traded points throughout. The Spirit found their rhythm at the net behind Shayla Cotright's four kills, while Bella Reach and Jenna Sarff each added three kills to keep the offense balanced. Ana Newcomb chipped in with an ace as OUAZ held strong late and pulled out the hard-fought first set.

• Set 2 (25-19): The Spirit came out strong in the second set, quickly establishing control with a fast start that put Benedictine Mesa on the defensive. The Redhawks pushed back midway through the frame, but OUAZ's attack proved too much to handle. Cotright led the charge with five kills, while Lauren Wamsley added three kills and an ace, and Reach chipped in three kills of her own. The Spirit maintained their edge down the stretch to claim the set and extend their lead in the match.

• Set 3 (25-23): The final frame turned into another back-and-forth battle, with neither side giving much ground. The Spirit leaned on Wamsley, who delivered five kills and an ace to keep the offense rolling. Reach and Cotright each added two kills, while Amey Rainaud contributed an ace to help swing momentum. OUAZ held firm under pressure and finished strong to close out the match in straight sets.

Shayla Cotright delivered a spectacular performance, finishing the match with a .550 hitting percentage and 12 kills, a mark that now ranks seventh all-time in OUAZ program history. Cotright was a dominant presence at the net, combining precision and power to keep the opposing defense off balance throughout the match. Her consistent attacks provided a backbone for the Spirit's offense and played a key role in securing the straight-set victory.

Top Performers

• Shayla Cotright – 12 kills (7th all time individual hitting with .550%)

• Lauren Wamsley – 10 kills, 2 service aces

• Amey Rainaud – 20 digs, 1 service ace

• Kaiden Raif – 18 assists

• Ana Newcomb – 18 assists, 1 service ace

• Jessica Pearce – 3 blocks

Up Next

The Spirit continue action on the road against Park Gilbert on Saturday, September 20th at 1:00 PM (MST).

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