Aztecs Volleyball falls in straight sets to No. 12 Mesa CC

The Pima Community College volleyball team (2-7, 1-1 in ACCAC) was back in action on Friday as it played an ACCAC conference match at Mesa Community College (9-2, 3-0).

• The Aztecs fell in straight sets to the No. 12 ranked Thunderbirds 25-12, 25-18, 25-22.
• The Aztecs surrendered the first eight points to begin the match but they cut into the deficit when freshman Alexia Hutchens (Salpointe Catholic HS) had two kills and sophomore Maggie McReynolds had an ace serve to make it 12-9. The Thunderbirds went on to score 11 straight points to take the first set.
• There were six ties in the first 22 combined points scored in the second set. The Aztecs trailed 13-12 but Mesa went on to score five of the next six points to open an 18-13 advantage. The Aztecs cut their lead to three points but could not close the gap as the Thunderbirds took a 2-0 lead.
• The Aztecs and the Thunderbirds played a close third set as neither team held more than a two-point advantage in the first 20 points scored. Mesa took a 12-10 lead and scored four straight to make it 16-10. Freshman Alex Jacome (Canyon del Oro HS) responded with a kill followed by sophomore Kendall Snyder's (Canyon del Oro HS) ace. Down 21-16, the Aztecs got two aces from freshman Julia Ford (Catalina Foothills HS) and a kill from McReynolds to cut it to 21-19 but Pima could not get any closer.
• McReynolds had a team-high 12 kills to go with nine digs and one ace. Sophomore Julia Baird and Hutchens each finished with six kills. Jacome closed out the match with 15 assists and Ford posted 10 digs and two aces.

The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium on Saturday for a non-conference match against Park University VR. First volley is set for 3:00 p.m.