The Park University Gilbert volleyball team won its sixth match in a row, beating UC Merced 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-21) to move to 11-5 overall and 11-2 in the Cal Pac Conference setting up the rubber match for first place in the Cal Pac Arizona Division on Tuesday against Embry Riddle.
"We continue to get better every match," said Buccaneers Head Coach Clay Webb. "I'm very proud of the way this team keeps competing and striving to improve."
The Buccaneers dominated the Bobcats (7-13, 7-4) in every statistical category, outhitting them 40-27 in kills, and hitting percentage (.297-.053). The Bucs were also clean in errors only making 13 attack errors on 91 attempts. The only category the Bucs could be upset with were service errors where they made eight service miscues.
Set one was not as close as the score indicates as the Bucs controlled the set from the start, jumping out to 7-1 lead and never really looking back. The Bobcats brought it as close as 12-10 before the Buccos broke the set back open with 5-0 run on the serve of Annika Wallace. Park held a seven-point lead at 24-17 before relinquishing three points to make it 24-20. Finally, a kill by Elizabeth Clemit put the set away.
Set two saw the Buccaneers race to a 7-0 lead and they were able to skip home, holding leads as large as 13 points at one point in the set. Makenna Busse had four of her team leading 11 kills in the set while Clemit had three kills.
The third set was the most competitive set of the match as UCM held a lead for the first time in the match, leading at different points until about midway through the set when they held a 13-11 lead. Then, a kill by Busse, two UCM attack errors and a kill by Georgia Romine Black put the Bucs ahead for good at 15-13.
For the second contest in a row, Busse led the Bucs in kills with 11 and she hit .500 to go along with two blocks. Clemit had her fourth double digit kill match of the year, posting 10 kills while not making an error hitting .588. Wallace led the team with 24 assists and service aces with four. Amanda Jonovich only had three kills on the night, but helped on the defensive end, leading the team in digs with 11. Miranda Bacon posted another solid night, with seven kills and only one error, hitting .600.
The Buccaneers now prepare to host Embry Riddle for second time in two weeks. In the last matchup, the Bucs handed the Eagles their first conference loss in five years. This match will be to win the season series as the two teams have split the first two matches this season. Also at stake will be first place in the Arizona Division of the Cal Pac Conference. The match will take place on Tuesday, October 26 at the Arizona Region Volleyball Facility at 6 p.m.
