Volleyball lets lead slip away in 3-2 loss to Central Arizona

YUMA, Ariz. - The No. 20 ranked Arizona Western Matadors Volleyball team (14-7, 6-3) dropped its second match of the weekend in Coolidge, losing 3-2 to Central Arizona (11-12, 4-3) on Saturday afternoon. 

The Matadors had a 2-1 lead in the match after dropping the first set 25-23 before coming back strong with a 25-14 win in the second set and a 25-22 win in set number three. The Vaqueras held the Matador to 19 points in the fourth set to keep the match going with a 25-19 decision in the fourth set. The Matadors and Vaqueras traded leads in the fifth set before Central Arizona outlasted the Matadors 18-16. 

Larrynn Joseph-Rodrigues had a team-high 20 kills in the loss, one of two Matadors in double-figures, joined by Natalia Valencia-Gamboa who had 16 kills. Nehir Erimez led the Matadors in assists for a second straight match with 37.

The Matadors had three players in double figures in digs, led by Valencia-Gamboa with 26 and Rana Yamada with 22. Erimez finished off a double-double with 16 digs in the loss.

Arizona Western returns to action Thursday, October 24, taking on College of Southern Nevada at 7:00 pm at the House Gymnasium. Tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for seniors while Arizona Western College students get in free with their AWC ID.