Aztecs Volleyball overwhelms South Mountain CC in straight sets to open ACCAC conference play

The Pima Community College volleyball team (2-6) played its first ACCAC conference match on Friday at South Mountain Community College (0-3, 0-1).

• The Aztecs beat the Cougars in straight sets 25-16, 25-20, 25-22.
• The Aztecs led 15-14 in the first set and scored four straight points with two kills from sophomore Maggie McReynolds (Mountain View HS) and a kill from sophomore Julia Baird to make it 19-14. Freshman Rickki Hernandez (Mountain Ridge HS) had two straight aces to put the Aztecs up 1-0 in the match. The Aztecs scored 10 of the final 12 points.
• The Aztecs held a slim lead for much of the second set. Pima took an 18-13 lead, but the Cougars charged back to score five straight points to tie it at 18-18. After a South Mountain shot sailed out, Baird served up an ace and McReynolds had two straight kills to put the Aztecs back up 22-18. Freshman Addison Gilvin (Sahuarita HS) had a kill and a block to set up set-point. Gilvin finished the job with a kill to put Pima up 2-0.
• There was one tie score in the third set at 7-7 but the Aztecs led for much of the way. They took their biggest lead of the set after McReynolds had another kill and Baird made a block at the net for a Pima point to make it 19-14. The Cougars scored five of the next six points to cut Pima's lead to 20-19 but Gilvin came through again with a kill and a block on two straight points to make it 22-19. Baird put down the final kill to seal the win.
• McReynolds led with a game-high 12 kills to go along with seven digs. Gilvin finished the match with seven kills and four blocks while Baird and freshman Alexia Hutchens (Salpointe Catholic HS) each had six kills. Baird added four digs, three blocks and two aces and Hutchens posted six digs, three blocks and an ace.
• Sophomore Julia Weatherbie (Mountain View HS) finished with 14 assists, three kills and two aces while freshman Breeze Schelter had 13 assists. Freshman Julia Ford (Catalina Foothills HS) closed it out with nine digs and one ace.

The Aztecs will play at Mesa Community College next Friday, Sept. 12 in an ACCAC conference contest. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.