Matadors show depth at home
Arizona Western was able to keep its head down and take care of another opponent as it closes in on an ACCAC volleyball championship on Saturday afternoon.
The Matadors walked through Pima in three sets (25-18, 25-20, 25-13) to stay atop of the league with four matches remaining.
“I think they’re doing really well,” AWC coach Lorayne Chandler said. “Right now I think that we can certainly improve on the unforced errors. We do have a few really big matches coming up. Obviously it’s going to be important to make sure the girls stay healthy and motivated.”
On Saturday a lot of damage was done from the service line with 11 of the 75 points coming from aces.
AWC (16-5 overall, 8-1 ACCAC) started fast in the
first set with Haylee Paladini, Teuila Lolotai and Jovana Papaz. Papaz also had two aces in the first set to pull the team out to a 14-9 lead. The deep lineups and quick play helped the Mats extend that lead and win 25-18.
Paladini finished with seven kills.
Chandler was able to use everyone on the roster and usual stat leader Yenny Montoya Murillo only played in one set. She played in the second set.
The Aztecs (11-11, 4-6) had their best set during the second and it was tied at 12. A kill from Lisbeth Rosario Martinez and a shared block by Ke’ila Williams and Kiara Erving helped the Mats pull ahead 18-15.
Erving had a big game
with nine kills.
Papaz closed that set with an ace to win 25-20.
Pima scored the first two points of the third set, but Papaz went back to the service line for nine straight points to pull ahead 9-2.
Papaz, who missed time with an injury earlier this season, finished the game with six aces and five kills.
“Having one more option is crucial for us. If anybody is having an off game, we’ll have somebody who can fill in,” Chandler said. “(It makes us) 100 times more versatile. It’s good to be able to have a bench that’s as deep as ours, even though we don’t have that many players. They are all contributors.”
Throughout the rest of the set the Mats were aggressive at the net, and a couple of kills by Melissa Garciglia Banuelos helped them pull ahead by double
digits and win 25-13.
Lauolive Tonga finished Pima with a four-point serving streak for the win.
Sydney Hancock had 12 assists and Tonga had 14 assists as the two managed the middle of the floor. Neyshlian Roman Concepcion had 16 digs as the team’s libero. AWC had 32 kills. “That was nice to get everybody a little bit of playing time,” Chandler said. “It’s good to be able to see everybody. We don’t get a chance to change up the lineup very often unless it’s tournament play. Now that we’re playing Wednesday, Friday from here on out, the girls stay pretty motivated.”
At 8-1 in ACCAC play, the Mats have a lead on Glendale and South Mountain (both 8-3 in ACCAC play).