Despite being severely short-staffed and dropping the first set, the Park University Gilbert volleyball team regrouped and won the next three sets to secure a victory over Saint Katherine at Inspire Courts in Gilbert, Ariz.
The game saw several players who are not usually a part of the regular rotation, including Masaya Archbold and Daniella Miranda-Johnson, get extended playing time for the second match in a row. The Buccaneers looked out of sorts in the first set and for much of the second as the unlikely bunch tried to find a rhythm.
They fell behind by as many as four points early in set two, but turned the corner with an 11-6 run to tie up the match. That momentum carried into set three, where they started things off with a 7-0 run that featured two kills each by Miranda Bacon and Kendra Zuckerman.
The Firebirds made a dent in the Buccaneers' run, but never really threatened to re-take control of the match as; the Bucs won sets three and four by the widest margins (4) of the day.
Bacon had an outstanding performance with 15 kills, two digs, two blocks assists and a staggering .423 kill percentage. Middleblocker Makenna Busse added 12 kills, two block assists, a solo block and a .346 kill percentage.
Zuckerman was the third Buccaneer with double-digit kills (10). Annika Wallace tallied 30 assists, while Amanda Jonovich and Hattie Patton got it done defensively with 18 digs a piece. Jonovich also had eight kills.
Saturday's match marks the end of regular season play. The Bucs ended their season on a four match winning streak and won 11 of their last 12 matches. With the regular season wrapped up, the Cal Pac will decide if Park Gilbert is worthy of one of three at-large playoff spots.
With the second best conference record (15-3) and a win over No. 25 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) under their belts, the Buccaneers are in good shape to be playing in next week's Cal Pac tournament.
The tournament is scheduled to take place Nov. 11-13 in Prescott, Ariz. hosted by Embry-Riddle (Ariz.). If the Buccaneers earn a berth, it would make them the first Park Gilbert team to earn a conference playoff spot and give them an opportunity to fight for a spot in the NAIA tournament.
