The Park University Gilbert volleyball team has been battling injuries and adverse situations all year long, twisted ankles, bad backs, you name it, the Bucs have had to deal with it. Today was no different. Setter Melissa Blockey who had close contact with a person with covid-19 sat out tonight's contest with Embry Riddle out of abundance of caution despite the fact she tested negative. Even without one of their setters, the Buccaneers put up a good fight, leading the Eagles in every set, but unable to hold on to those leads as they fell 3-0 (21-25, 15-25, 23-25) at the Arizona Region Volleyball Facility in Chandler, Ariz.
"I thought we competed hard tonight," said Buccaneers head coach Clay Webb. "We did not pass the ball well enough to get ourselves out of trouble or maintain momentum when we were ahead. We will move on quickly from this and refocus as we have another tough match with Benedictine Mesa on Saturday."
In the first set, the Buccaneers held the lead for most of the set, but then with the lead 19-15, Embry Riddle went on a 6-0 run to take a lead they would not relinquish. The set was a virtual heat as both teams had 16 kills on 47 attempts. The difference turned out to be two more attack errors on the Buccaneers.
The Eagles rode the momentum of the comeback first set win into the second set. Park Gilbert jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the set, but an 8-1 ERAU run gave them a 10-6 lead and they never looked back, winning it handily 25-15.
In the third set, the Bucs jumped out to an 11-3 lead, and it looked as though the Bucs were going to take the match to a fourth set. But the Eagles would go on an 11-1 run themselves to take the lead for good. The Bucs would make the Eagles earn it pulling within one as ERAU reached match point. But the Bucs were unable to complete the comeback and Embry Riddle walked away winning the match, the season series and most likely the Cal Pac Arizona Division in the process.
Amanda Jonovich led the Bucs in kills with 12, but it was offset by eight hitting errors. Miranda Bacon had a clean night with eight kills and only one error, plus she added five digs and four blocks. Jonovich and Hattie Patton both had 12 digs to lead the team defensively.
With their path to the automatic bid to the Cal Pac Tournament seemingly blocked, the Buccaneers now have to turn their attention to making sure they secure one of the two at large berths. This starts with their next match on the road at Benedictine Mesa on Saturday before finishing out the season with three home games next week against the Cal Pac South 2 Division. The Buccaneers swept the three matches with Marymount California, Westcliff, and Saint Katherine earlier this year, but it took five sets in two of the matches to accomplish the feat.
The Bucs match with BENU on Saturday starts at 4 p.m. at Chandler Gilbert Community College.
