The Benedictine Mesa Women's Volleyball team secured a thrilling five-set victory over Embry-Riddle, with set scores of 25-22, 25-16, 19-25, 19-25, and 15-13.

Set 1: Benedictine Mesa started strong, led by Kylie Bartel. An early kill from Bartel, assisted by Annika Wallace, helped the Redhawks build a 10-4 lead. Contributions from Megan Hicks, Gracelynn Nez, and Vivianna Galvan allowed them to fend off an Embry-Riddle rally, ultimately securing the set 25-22 with a decisive block from Nez.

Set 2: The Redhawks dominated the second set, with Bartel and Wallace connecting once again. Embry-Riddle struggled with errors, while Galvan made key plays, including a service ace, to extend Benedictine's lead. Solid defensive efforts from Nez and Jewel Carling sealed a 25-16 win.

Set 3: In the third set, Embry-Riddle quickly took the lead, capitalizing on Redhawk attack errors to extend their advantage to 8-5. Despite strong kills from Hailey White and consistent offensive play from Bartel, Embry-Riddle maintained control, pushing the score to 14-8. Benedictine rallied with timely contributions from Sophie Drollinger and a service ace from Lily Setka, narrowing the gap to 10-14. However, Embry-Riddle's strong defense and timely kills allowed them to secure the set 25-19.

Set 4: The Redhawks came out fighting in the fourth set but struggled to maintain momentum after an early attack error put them down 0-1. They quickly leveled the score with a kill from White, assisted by Galvan. However, Embry-Riddle regained the lead, showcasing their offensive power. Benedictine fought back valiantly, with notable contributions from Bartel and Mya Barron, who combined for crucial kills. The teams exchanged points, with Benedictine tying the score at 12-12 and 14-14, thanks to Bartel and a strong kill from Wallace. Unfortunately, a series of critical errors ultimately cost the Redhawks the set, 25-19.

Set 5: In the final set, Benedictine surged to an early 3-0 lead, but Embry-Riddle closed the gap, leading to a back-and-forth battle. Key plays from Hicks and strong blocks kept Benedictine in the fight. Trailing 13-9, the Redhawks rallied, capitalizing on Embry-Riddle's errors to win the set 15-13, sealing the match with an attack error from the opponent.

Key Individuals:

• Kylie Bartel: 23 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks, 12 digs
• Hailey White: 10 kills, 1 dig
• Vivianna Galvan: 27 assists, 7 digs

Looking Ahead: The Redhawks will face Park-Gilbert at home on Wednesday, October 9th, at 6 PM.