Prescott, AZ- On Saturday, Arizona Christian dropped their first set of the year before rebounding to beat Antelope Valley 3-1.  In the invitational finale, ACU fell 3-0 to host Embry-Riddle.  Sophomore Amanda Bakonyi topped with 20 combined kills on the day.

Set one against the Pioneers (4-3) started well with the Firestorm (3-1) up 16-14 after holding as large as a six point lead.  However, UAV earned the set win after outscoring ACU 11-3 down the stretch.

Following ties of 1-1 and 2-2, Sophomore Delaney Harris dropped in a service ace to move ACU in front for good in the set.  They actually held the lead the entire third set as well.

After an exchange of early ties and lead changes, the Pioneers held an 18-17 edge.  But the Firestorm closed out the match on an 8-1 run.  Freshman Kaitlyn Streltzoff and Senior Toria Siemens both had a kill while Senior Debbie White had two kills including the match clincher during the closing effort.

Bakonyi lead with 12 kills as Streltzoff was close behind at 10 kills.  Senior Hailey Carpenter gave out 35 assists.  Harris carried the Firestorm defensively as she recorded 32 digs.  Streltzoff and White added 15 and 11 digs respectively.

The last match of the invitational pitted the two teams that were 3-0 in their previous matches on Friday and Saturday.  ACU held early leads in all three sets but could not slow down the Eagles (7-2) on their home floor.

With only eight kills, Bakonyi held the high kills mark for ACU against ERAU.  Harris produced 14 digs while Senior Kinsey Pease accounted for 12 digs.

Starting a season 3-0 was a first for the Firestorm since at least before 2009 and only the second time they began a year winning 3 of 4 in that same time frame.

The Firestorm will be in action again next weekend as they host the Firestorm Labor Day Invitational- a seven team, two court, and 12 match affair- on Friday and Saturday in Fultz Memorial Gym.