The Benedictine University Mesa women's volleyball team battled through a back-and-forth contest to earn a thrilling five-set victory over La Sierra University on Wednesday night. The Redhawks came out on top with scores of 26-24, 19-25, 24-26, 25-17, and 15-8.

The Redhawks opened the first set with strong energy, fueled by key plays from Vivianna Galvan, who delivered an early service ace to set the tone. Benedictine stormed back from an early deficit behind kills from Camille Collins, Railey Druxman, and Janae Moore, taking control midway through the set. After falling behind 20-17, the Redhawks mounted a clutch comeback, finishing on a 9-4 run capped by a block from Collins and a kill from Galvan to take the set, 26-24.

La Sierra responded in the second, capitalizing on Redhawk attack errors and consistent offense from Lanah Bergen and Hailey Frary to even the match with a 25-19 win. Despite several strong swings from Druxman and Sophie Drollinger, Benedictine couldn't overcome La Sierra's late-set momentum.

The third set mirrored the intensity of the first, with both teams trading points throughout. Galvan's playmaking and Drollinger's attacks helped the Redhawks build small leads, but La Sierra's blocking at the net turned the tide. After a 24-24 tie, La Sierra managed back-to-back points to edge out a 26-24 win and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Facing elimination, Benedictine bounced back with one of their most dominant stretches of the night. Galvan continued to set the pace offensively, connecting with Moore and Drollinger for multiple kills. Druxman caught fire late in the set, recording three straight kills to help close it out, 25-17, and send the match to a decisive fifth set.

The Redhawks carried that momentum into the final frame. A block from BelleRose Branconier and Drollinger opened the set, followed by a kill and service ace from Drollinger to give Benedictine an early 4-0 lead. The Redhawks never looked back, maintaining control through crisp execution and strong team defense to finish off the match and claim the hard-fought victory.

Key Players:

• Railey Druxman: 20 kills, 22 digs, 4 blocks
• Sophie Drollinger: 22 kills, 25 digs, 3 aces
• Vivianna Galvan: 53 assists, 20 digs

Looking Ahead:
The Redhawks return to action on Thursday as they face Hope International.