Benedictine University Mesa

The Benedictine Mesa women's volleyball team opened strong but could not maintain the momentum Thursday evening, falling to Arizona Christian 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-23) in a GSAC matchup at the Firestorm Recreation Center.

Benedictine raced out to an impressive first-set victory after overcoming an early 5-0 deficit. The Redhawks used a 17-7 run to seize control of the opener, highlighted by strong play from Sophie Drollinger, Marley Cortez, Kylie Malone, and BellaRose Branconier. Benedictine held Arizona Christian to just four kills and a .031 hitting percentage in the set before closing out the 25-18 win. 

The Firestorm answered in the second set, but the Redhawks remained within striking distance throughout. Trailing 20-17 late, Benedictine rallied behind three consecutive service aces from Haley Azzoz to knot the score at 20-20. The teams traded points down the stretch before Arizona Christian scored two of the final three points to claim a 25-23 victory and even the match. 

Arizona Christian carried that momentum into the third set, building an early lead and keeping the Redhawks at bay. Benedictine trimmed the deficit to 19-19 following kills from Taylee Wilson and Cortez, but the Firestorm closed the set on a 6-1 run to take a 2-1 match advantage. 

The fourth set featured 12 ties and nine lead changes as neither team could create much separation. Benedictine used a 10-5 run midway through the frame to grab a 14-11 lead and later rallied from three points down to tie the score at 19-19. Consecutive points from Arizona Christian helped swing the momentum, and despite a late kill from Drollinger that brought the Redhawks within one at 24-23, the Firestorm secured the final point to close out the match. 

Drollinger paced the Benedictine offense with a double-double, recording 17 kills and 25 digs while adding two service aces. Cortez and Malone each finished with nine kills, while Branconier added six kills and a solo block. 

The Redhawks spread the setting duties between Taylee Wilson and Kiara Milar, who finished with 24 and 20 assists, respectively. Adina Ortiz anchored the back row with a match-high 26 digs, while Azzoz contributed three service aces during Benedictine's second-set comeback effort.