GILBERT, Ariz. - The women's volleyball team kicked off play tonight in the desert as they took on former Cal Pac rival Park-Gilbert University.
The first point of the night came on an ace by Brooke Srahina, but not before the Bucs reeled off five straight points to grab the early lead.
Park held the 20-14 lead as the Red Hawks rallied on a 5-2 run to pull within three late in the first set. A kill by
Tiara Manns started the rally as
Elizabeth Heath and
Kiersti Howell each picked up kills.
However, the Bucs scored three straight times to take the first set 25-19.
A kill by Heath got Simpson on the board in the second set as they took the early 4-2 lead as
Kare Ann Oshiro posted a kill and
Michelle Sams notched back-to-back aces.
With the score knotted up at 11, Simpson reeled off five straight points as Oshiro and Sams picked up kills.
The Bucs did not go quietly as they tied the game at 17. Simpson answered back as they went on a crucial 5-1 run as Manns notched an ace while Heath slammed down two kills.
Heath closed out the second set victory for Simpson as she owned the second set clinching kill to give Simpson the 25-21 victory to tie the match score.
The Red Hawks jumped out to the early 7-4 lead and fended off the Bucs for most of the third set.
But the Bucs flipped the script late as Simpson held a set point advantage, 24-22, before Park went on to score four unanswered points to take the 26-24 third set thriller.
Back-to-back kills by Oshiro and Sams gave Simpson the early lead entering the fourth set. However, the Bucs scored four straight points late in the game to create enough breathing room to take the fourth set 25-20.
Elizabeth Heath had a team-high 14 kills to go along with eight digs and one ace.
Brooke Sarahina had a huge game as she posted a season-high 30 assists to go along with two aces and seven digs.
Brooklyn Jimenez had a big game on defense as she posted a season-high 18 digs and a team-high three aces.
Simpson continues its Arizona road trip as they take on Ben U at 6 pm tomorrow night.
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