Avondale, Ariz. - In a match that went down to a final set that needed extra points, NAIA number five ranked Arizona Christian came up just short to NAIA number one ranked OUAZ on Saturday morning.
OUAZ won the first completed match (the 4s) before Eliana Cho and Brianna Boeckman countered to win at the 2s. Cho and Boeckman dropped the first set but then won the final two sets in dramatic fashion. The Spirit won at five. The Firestorm once again tied the team score at 2-2 when Emily Katzer and Jaiden Zeis won in straight sets playing at the three in the lineup.Â
After the top pairs for each side split the first two sets, the third set needed bonus points to decide the team match. The Brown sisters were on the short end of a 23-21 final set.
MATCH INFO
Match One Score: OUAZ - 3, Arizona Christian - 2
Order of Finish: 4,2,5,3,1
Location: Avondale Sports Complex, Avondale, AZ
MATCH ONE RESULTS
- Summer Hanks/Amey Rainaud (OUAZ) def. Haley Brown/Riley Brown (ACU) 2-1 (15-21, 21-16, 23-21)
- Eliana Cho/Brianna Boeckman (ACU) def. Olivia Andersh/Eliana Dean (OUAZ) 2-1 (14-21, 22-20, 15-13)
- Emily Katzer/Jaiden Zeis (ACU) def. Shockey/Dykstra (OUAZ) 2-0 (21-16, 21-14)
- Shayna Martinez/Grace Hughes (OUAZ) def. Emee Fellens/Aaliyah Malden (ACU) 2-0 (21-14, 21-6)
- Diana Enriquez/Shea Marovich (OUAZ) def. Alyssa Robles/Kapri Espinosa (ACU) 2-0 (21-9, 21-12)
COACH BURWICK THOUGHTS
"So close and so proud of how we played!"
NEXT FOR THE FIRESTORM
On Friday, Arizona Christian will host Park Gilbert at 6:30 pm at the Victory Lane Sports Complex. The Firestorm will honor their seniors before the match.
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