Volleyball shakes off rust to down Southern Nevada 3-0

YUMA, Ariz. – The Arizona Western Matadors Volleyball team (15-7, 7-3) returned from a long layoff to beat College of Southern Nevada (0-17, 0-10) 3-0 to snap a two-match losing skid on Thursday night at the House Gymnasium.

Larrynn Joseph-Rodrigues led the Matadors with eight kills and both Natalia Valencia-Gamboa and Esther Asiedu ended the night with seven as the Matadors took down Southern Nevada in three sets.

The Matadors jumped out to a 5-1 lead over the Coyotes in the first set before Southern Nevada rattled off seven of the next eight points to take an 8-6 lead. The Matadors fought back to regain the lead and pushed it to two points at 11-9 on a Sevval Aslan kill. After the Matadors pushed the lead to 17-12, Southern Nevada trimmed the lead to 18-15 before Esther Asiedu stopped the run with a kill. The Matadors pulled away and matched their largest lead of the set with a 25-20 win.

For a second consecutive set, the Matadors took an early lead, scoring the first two points. Southern Nevada used a run to grab a 5-4 lead eventually building that lead out to 19-15 before the Matadors used a 8-0 run to grab the lead, highlighted by an Aslan kill to put the Matadors in front as the Matadors pulled away for a 25-21 win in the second set.

Esther Asiedu forced Southern Nevada to take an early timeout in the third set, recording the kill to put the Matadors up 7-1. Southern Nevada came storming back once again, cutting the Matadors' advantage to one point at 14-13 but the Matadors were able to fend off the Coyotes, beating Southern Nevada 25-23 win in the third set to win the match 3-0.

Nehir Erimez guided the Matadors' offense with 21 assists while Rana Yamada led the way defensively with nine digs.

The Matadors and the Coyote do battle once again tomorrow, Friday, October 25, with the first serve set for 7:00 pm at the House Gymnasium. Tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for seniors while Arizona Western College students get in free with their AWC ID.