Volleyball falls to Eastern Arizona 3-0 in regular season final

YUMA, Ariz. – The No. 20 ranked Arizona Western Lady Matadors Volleyball team (20-7, 9-3) finished the regular season with a 3-0 loss to Eastern Arizona (23-11, 10-3) on Sophomore Night at House Gymnasium on Friday evening.

Amanda Juliao led the Lady Matadors with 12 kills and was one of two Lady Matadors to finish the match with double-digit kills as Gabriela Martensson had 10 kills in the loss.

Arizona Western opened the first set by scoring six of the first eight points, taking a 6-2 lead on an Aly Reeser ace. Eastern Arizona battled back and eventually opened up a 17-14 lead. With the Lady Matadors trailing 22-19, Arizona Western used a 3-0 run to even the set up at 22 points each. Eastern outlasted Arizona Western, taking the first set 28-26.

Eastern Arizona jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the second set before Arizona Western took an 8-7 lead on a Ma'o Lauhingoa ace. With the Lady Matadors trailing 11-8, Arizona Western went on a 4-0 run, capped off by a Juliao kill, giving the Lady Matadors a 12-11 lead. It was Juliao who gave the Lady Matadors their largest lead of the set at 20-17 before the Gila Monsters scored eight of the final 11 points to take the second set 25-22.

The Gila Monsters continued the momentum in the third set and raced out to a 9-3 lead, taking a commanding lead of the set and never looking back as Arizona Western was held to 14 points in the final set in a 25-14 loss.

Evelyn Trivino had 28 assists in the match while Reeser led the team in digs with 10.

The Lady Matadors open post-season play on Monday, October 30, hosting Yavapai in the Region I Semi-Final at House Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5.00 and passes are not accepted for postseason games.