Prescott, Ariz. – OUAZ Women's Volleyball closed out the regular season Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought five-set loss to Embry-Riddle, falling 3-2 (25-20, 25-18, 19-25, 18-25, 16-14). The Spirit finish the regular season with a 21-6 overall record and a 14-2 mark in GSAC play.
After dropping the opening two sets, OUAZ showed tremendous resilience by rallying to win the third and fourth sets and force a decisive fifth. The Spirit ultimately came up just short in the winner-take-all frame despite battling back multiple times throughout the match.
Embry-Riddle took control early in the opening set, building a 16-10 advantage before the Spirit mounted a late surge. Kills from Elisa Saunders, Keira Adrian, and Bella Reach helped OUAZ cut the deficit to 24-20, but the Eagles were able to secure the final point and claim the set.
The second set followed a similar pattern as Embry-Riddle used a strong serving run to build separation midway through the frame. Gloria Moye and Jenna Sarff helped keep the Spirit within striking distance, but the Eagles closed out the set to take a 2-0 match advantage.
Facing elimination, OUAZ responded with one of its strongest stretches of volleyball in the third set. Adrian's serving sparked an early 9-1 run that gave the Spirit complete control. Saunders and Moye led the attack, while the OUAZ defense held the Eagles to a .100 hitting percentage. The Spirit never looked back, earning a 25-19 victory to extend the match.
OUAZ carried that momentum into the fourth set and gradually pulled away after an early back-and-forth battle. Moye controlled the middle of the net, while Diederich, Saunders, Sarff, and Adrian delivered timely kills. The Spirit closed the frame on an 11-4 run to secure a 25-18 victory and force a fifth set.
The decisive set lived up to the billing. Neither team led by more than two points as the score was tied 12 different times. OUAZ held a 14-13 advantage after kills from Hannah Allman and Sarff, but Embry-Riddle responded with the final three points to narrowly escape with the victory.
By the Numbers
Up Next
The Spirit now turn their attention to postseason play after securing the No. 2 seed in the GSAC Tournament.
OUAZ will host No. 3 seed Hope International in the GSAC Tournament Semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. inside Faith Arena. The winner will advance to the GSAC Championship match.
