GILBERT, Ariz. - Park University Gilbert led early in the first and third sets Wednesday night at The Nest, but a lopsided second and late-set efforts in the first and third sent Benedictine University at Mesa past the Buccaneers in a sweep - 25-18, 25-18, 26-24 - taking a 2-1 lead in the inaugural season series between the two women's volleyball programs.
Sabrina Garces (five kills) and Autumn Wood (nine kills) led the offensive starters, while Kendra Zuckerman came off the bench for seven kills, and Bella Valdez split setting duties with Jenifer Lauer, adding a combined 30 assists to the effort. Lauer had a double-double with 14 assists and 12 digs, and MacKenzie Seitz led the defensive back row for the Buccaneers (12-10) with 14 digs.
Benedictine (12-9) had two offensive double-digit performers - 12 kills from Brianna Rivera and 11 from Brittnie Henige - while Caitlan Sammons led all defensive players with 20 digs. The Redhawks also captured the reserve match, earlier in the evening, 27-25, 25-21.
Park U Gilbert opened an early lead in the first, up 5-2 on an attack at the net from Lauer, and the Buccaneers maintained a three-point advantage at 14-11 on a Redhawk setting error. The first set began to unravel, though, with a 3-0 run from the Redhawks, who were later able to separate and lead by seven, setting up set point at 24-17 on the second of back-to-back service aces from Kassandra Renteria.
The Buccaneers dropped the first 25-18 and dropped the second by an identical score, as BenU never trailed and ended th second on a 4-0 run.
In the third, Claire Fisher gave the Buccaneers an early 2-0 lead and Park was able to use a 3-0 run to tie the set at 9-9 after Benedictine pulled in front. The Bucs trailed by as many as four, down 17-13, before a 4-0 run to tie at 17-17, and Kayla Wieserman had a critical kill late to extend the match, converting Lauer's set to make it 24-24.
Benedictine was able to get a kill from Rivera, though, and the Buccaneers' final attack couldn't connect, marking BenU's second-straight win over teh Buccaneers and the second Redhawk win over the Bucs at The Nest. The teams are scheduled to meet once more, this season, on Oct. 30 at CGCC. Facility issues could cause the match to be moved to The Nest, and an update will be made at Gilbert.ParkAthletics.com.
Three more matches await the Buccaneers this week, beginning Friday night at Yavapai, at 7 p.m., followed by two matches Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., against Westcliff and West Coast Baptist.
