Mesa, Ariz. – OUAZ Women's Volleyball picked up another key conference victory Thursday evening, defeating Benedictine Mesa 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 25-14, 25-22) inside the PEC. With the win, the Spirit improved to 15-5 overall and 9-1 in GSAC play.
After dropping a tightly contested opening set, OUAZ responded by winning the next three frames, including a dramatic comeback in the second set and a dominant performance in the third, to secure its ninth conference victory of the season.
The Spirit finished the match with 62 kills, 56 assists, 82 digs, and eight total blocks while holding the Red Hawks to a .131 hitting percentage. OUAZ also held advantages in kills (62-39), assists (56-35), digs (82-67), and service aces (5-2).
Benedictine Mesa controlled much of the opening set and built a 23-16 lead late. OUAZ refused to go away, however, using a 7-1 rally highlighted by kills from McKenna Diederich and Keira Adrian, along with a service ace from Myra Memon, to cut the deficit to 24-23. The Red Hawks ultimately held on for the set victory, but the late rally provided momentum for the Spirit.
That momentum carried into the second set. Trailing 24-22 and facing set point, OUAZ scored the final four points of the frame. Elisa Saunders recorded a pair of key kills, Gloria Moye teamed up with Hannah Allman for a crucial block, and Allman capped the comeback with the set-winning kill to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set belonged entirely to the Spirit. OUAZ hit .355 while limiting Benedictine Mesa to a negative hitting percentage. Rylie Henige provided an offensive spark off the bench with multiple kills, while Moye and Saunders controlled the net. A 12-3 run midway through the set helped OUAZ pull away for a convincing 25-14 victory.
The Red Hawks challenged the Spirit throughout the fourth set and built a 15-9 advantage. OUAZ answered with one of its best stretches of the evening, scoring eight of the next nine points to erase the deficit. Adrian, Saunders, Diederich, and Henige all contributed key kills during the rally. With the score tied at 22, Diederich and Adrian produced back-to-back points before Diederich delivered the match-clinching kill to complete the comeback.
By the Numbers
- Elisa Saunders led all players with 15 kills while hitting .262 and adding three blocks.
- McKenna Diederich recorded 14 kills, hit .370, and added two blocks.
- Keira Adrian finished with nine kills, 16 digs, and a service ace.
- Hannah Allman contributed seven kills, 25 digs, and two blocks.
- Rylie Henige added seven kills on a .462 hitting percentage and three blocks.
- Gloria Moye totaled six kills and a match-high six blocks.
- Norma Ramirez-Barba directed the offense with 29 assists, nine digs, and a .750 hitting percentage.
- Isabella Foutz added 20 assists, 10 digs, and a service ace.
- Myra Memon contributed two service aces and four digs.
Up Next
OUAZ (15-5, 9-1 GSAC) returns to action on Thursday, Oct. 22, when the Spirit travel to Riverside, California, for a conference matchup against La Sierra. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. as OUAZ continues its push toward the top of the GSAC standings.
