WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL LOSES TWICE ON FRIDAY

PERU, Neb. – Making the quick trip to southeastern Nebraska, Avila women's volleyball fell twice on Friday, first to Briar Cliff, 3-1, and then to Peru State by the same 3-1 scoreline in the nightcap.

In the 2 PM match versus Briar Cliff, Avila won the opening set, 25-23 in a back-and-forth set. Avila got off to a quick 6-1 start, as Briar Cliff would then bring it to as close to three at various points, before nearly taking the lead before a service error on the final point of the set gave Avila the two-point, opening set win.

The Chargers took the final three sets fairly easily, 25-11, 25-19 and 25-17.

In the third set, the Eagles held a lead early in the frame before Briar Cliff went on an 18-9 run to end the set. Another early lead in the fourth set was not enough. With Avila clinging to a 7-6 lead, the Chargers rattled off five points in a row before hitting an eventual 14-2 run en route to a 25-17 fourth-set victory and 3-1 match win.

Another impressive performance was put up by Payton Hofer against Briar Cliff, who tallied a game-high 15 kills, while Sophia Giorgio (15) and Sydney Owens (14) each had double-digit digs.

The second match against the hosts, Peru State, was a four-set loss for Avila, 19-25, 23-25, 25-23, 8-25.

The first three sets were tightly-contested.

Avila got off to a quick 3-0 lead through the first three points until Peru State rattled off 17 of the next 22. Avila brought it to within four at multiple points, but it was not enough as Peru State took the opening set by six.

The second frame was another tight affair; Avila stayed within four early, nearly taking the lead late in the march, trailing by two at multiple points and almost knotting it up at 23-24, before a Peru State kill gave the hosts the second set as well.

Avila's set victory came in the third. Holding a tight lead throughout most of the set, Maddie Jones' 25^th-point kill gave the Eagles a big win and the momentum heading into the fourth.

The momentum wouldn't last as the Bobcats handily took the fourth and final set, 25-8, getting off to a 4-0 lead and never looking back.

In the second match, Owens, (11 kills and 16 digs) put up a double-double, while Giorgio's 13 digs gave her double-figures twice on the afternoon. Jones' 14 kills led the team and Sydney Martin's 16 assists were the Eagles' most. 

Avila has a few days to recover before hitting the court again on Wednesday, traveling to Lawrence, Kan., to take on Haskell at 7 PM.

(photo credit: Issy Aguilar)