Trio of Lady Matadors tally double-digit kills in 3-1 win over Yavapai

YUMA, Ariz. – The No. 20 ranked Arizona Western Lady Matadors' Volleyball team (19-5, 9-1) had three players with double-digit kills, winning its second consecutive match, beating Yavapai (7-12, 2-8) 3-1 at Walraven Gymnasium on Friday night.

Gabriela Martensson led the Lady Matadors with 18 kills while Amanda Juliao recorded a double-double with 16 kills and 12 digs in the win over the Roughriders.

The Lady Matadors fell behind 4-2 early in the first set before battling back to take a 7-6 lead. Arizona Western used a 6-0 scoring run to jump out to a 12-7 lead, eventually boosting the advantage to 18-11. A Martensson kill put the Lady Matadors ahead 21-13 and went on to take the first set 25-16.

Yavapai scored four of the first six points for the second consecutive set before the Lady Matadors used a 4-0 run to grab a 6-4 lead, eventually building a nine-point advantage at 19-10. The Lady Matadors finished the second strongly, scoring the final four points to take a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-14 win.

Unlike the first two sets, the Lady Matadors built an early lead in the third set, scoring four of the first five points. Yavapai jumped out in front with a pair of 4-0 scoring runs before the Lady Matadors opened up an 18-12 lead after a 6-0 scoring run. Yavapai scored 15 of the final 22 points to extend the match, winning the set 27-25.

After falling behind early in the fourth set, the Lady Matadors fought back to take a 12-11 lead on a Jazmin Cuellar kill. The Lady Matadors trailed 19-16 before embarking on a 4-0 run to regain the lead at 20-19. The Lady Matadors were able to fend off the Roughriders taking the fourth set 25-23 to win the match 3-1.

Ma'o Lauhingoa had 10 kills with eight digs in the win while Evelyn Trivino finished the match with 26 assists and Aly Reeser had 15 digs.

The Lady Matadors head to Scottsdale on Wednesday, October 18, to take on the Fighting Artichokes in a battle for first place in the ACCAC at 7:00 p.m.