OPSU Volleyball takes down ACU again
GLENDALE, Ariz. – For the second time in a week, the Oklahoma Panhandle State University volleyball team took down
Arizona Christian University by a 3-1 score, capping the home-and-home nonconference series. After taking it on the chin in the first set, the Aggies (2-1) awoke from the doldrums and out-dueled the Firestorm (1-2) the rest of the way, winning by set scores of 1125, 25-23, 27-25, 25-23.
Sophomore Essence West stepped up to lead OPSU to the win with a good all-around effort. West, a native of Dallas, Texas, topped the Aggies with 12 kills in 39 attempts, to finish the evening with a .205 attack average. West had a double-double by also amassing a team-high of 21 digs, as well.
Freshman right-side hitter Ana Pimenta narrowly missed her third double-double in as many matches by collecting nine kills and 12 digs. Kennede Jones, the reigning Sooner Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, led OPSU with six blocks, to go along with eight kills.
Sophomore Sydnee Saunders had six kills, four blocks and four digs. Junior libero Ashley Sanchez had 15 digs.
The Aggie setter tandem of Celenia Toribio and Lesly Galarza had 19 and 16 assists, respectively. Galarza completed her doubledouble by adding 11 digs, while Toribio contributed three blocks and five digs to the OPSU cause.
ACU had a huge .356 attack average in set one, before the Aggie defense cooled off the Firestorm to sub-.100 attack averages in each of the final three sets.