The Benedictine Mesa Men's Volleyball team faced a defeat in the Cal Pac Tournament Semifinals, ending their impressive conference tournament winning streak. The final set scores were 29-31, 25-23, 22-25, and 23-25.
In the first set, the Redhawks initially seized control with a 3-point burst, but Westcliff countered with a 5-point surge. The Redhawks, fueled by kills from Rylon Rackza,
Tyler McBurney, and
Dapre Rogers, later embarked on a 7-point streak to regain the lead. Despite a back-and-forth exchange, Westcliff clinched the set on a contentious call, with the Redhawks disputing the referee's decision on a kill attribution.
The second set saw a similar narrative as the Redhawks took an early lead, only for Westcliff to rally and eventually tie the game. However, a critical 5-point run by the Redhawks secured the set victory.
In the third set, Westcliff surged ahead with a 6-point streak, though the Redhawks narrowed the gap to one with a subsequent 5-point run. Despite a late push by the Redhawks, the Warriors maintained control and sealed the set.
The fourth set remained tightly contested, but Westcliff displayed composure while the Redhawks appeared slightly unsettled. Despite a valiant effort, the Redhawks fell short as Westcliff secured the decisive points to claim the set and match.
Key Players:
With this loss, the Redhawks' season likely concludes, though there remains a slim possibility of receiving an at-large bid to the NAIA Tournament. Despite facing challenges throughout the year, the Redhawks demonstrated resilience and perseverance.
