The Benedictine Mesa women's volleyball team put together one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season on Friday afternoon, defeating Westcliff in straight sets, 25-19, 25-14, 25-22. The Redhawks hit .373 as a team with 50 kills and just nine attack errors, while adding six service aces and 56 digs in the victory.
Benedictine controlled the opening set from start to finish, using a balanced attack and strong serving to build separation midway through the frame. The Redhawks recorded 16 kills while hitting .333 and closed the set on a 5-1 run behind key kills from Kylie Malone and Sophie Drollinger to secure the 25-19 win.Â
The second set belonged entirely to the Redhawks. Benedictine raced out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back, limiting Westcliff to a .107 hitting percentage. Consecutive service aces from Sophie Drollinger helped fuel an early run, while the Redhawks stretched their advantage to as many as 11 points before finishing off a dominant 25-14 set victory.
Westcliff provided its toughest challenge in the third set, pulling even at 15-15 and later trimming the deficit to 23-22. Benedictine responded in the closing moments, earning a service error and then getting the match-clinching kill from Kylie Malone to complete the sweep with a 25-22 win.Â
Malone led all players with 16 kills while posting a blistering .552 hitting percentage. Drollinger added a double-double with 15 kills, 17 digs, and three service aces. Camille Collins chipped in six kills on a .500 hitting percentage, while Marley Cortez finished with five kills.Â
The Redhawks received solid distribution from their setters as Taylee Wilson recorded 19 assists and Kiara Milar added 17 assists. Defensively, Drollinger led the team with 17 digs, while Sophie Schonauer contributed nine digs and Adina Ortiz added seven digs to help anchor the back row.
