Fullerton, CA – The Hope International women's volleyball team (0-2) opened up their 2023 season at the La Sierra Tournament at Loma Linda Academy in Loma Linda, CA. It was a tough first day for the Royals as they fell 3-0 in the first game to Aquinas and then couldn't hold onto the lead as they fell 3-2 to the Morningside Mustangs.
Game 1:
The Royals kept it close with Aquinas as they went back and forth in the first set with the Royals pulling away to a 19-17 lead off a kill from
Cassidy Koffroth. The Saints though battled back to take a 24-22 lead but the Royals answered with back-to-back kills by
Jade Philips and
Savannah Salter to tie 24-24. The Royals couldn't hold on though as the Saints went on to take the first set 26-24. The Royals jumped out to an early 15-13 advantage in the second set but the Saints answered with multiple runs of 3-0 and 4-0 to pull away and take set two 25-19. The Royals wouldn't go down easily as they put up a battle in the third set taking a 20-18 lead before a late Saints comeback was stopped by a 3-0 run led by a kill from Philips to put the Royals up 24-23. The Saints though wouldn't be denied as they came back to win 27-25 and win the game 3-0. Koffroth led the Royals with 9 kills.
Game 2:
After a disappointing first game the Royals came to life in game two against Morningside as they opened on an 8-1 run led by four kills from
Addie Mathias. The Royals then didn't allow the Mustangs to put together any rallies as they raced away to a 19-9 lead before closing on the set on a 6-1 run led by a kill each from Koffroth and
Ryann Lee to take set one 25-11 and a 1-0 lead. The Royals continued their momentum into the second set as they started on a 5-0 run led by two kills from Mathias but this time the Mustangs put up a battle as they managed to stay within a few points with the Royals leading 14-11 midway through the set. The Mustangs would keep coming as they got within 20-19 but the Royals had all the answers as they went on to win 25-20 and take a 2-0 lead.
The third set was a battle as the teams exchanged leads with the Royals leading early 10-9 but the Mustangs came right back to regain the lead at 11-10. The Royals would tie it 19-19 after back-to-back kills from Salter but this time it was the Mustangs who prevailed 25-20 as the Royals led 2-1. The Royals looked to close out the game in the fourth set as they started on an 8-1 run with four different players notching a kill. The Mustangs had other ideas though as they came back to tie it 10-10 before taking a 13-12 lead. The teams then exchanged leads before the Royals went on a 3-0 run to take a 23-22 lead. The Mustangs would answer as they called timeout and then finished the set on a 3-0 run to win 25-23 and tie the game 2-2.
The Royals opened the fifth set on a 7-2 run led by three kills from Mathias as they put themselves in a strong position to win. The teams then exchanged points before the Mustangs went a 4-0 run to tie it 12-12. The Royals would then regain a 13-12 advantage on a kill by Philips but the Mustangs answered with a 3-0 run to take the set 15-13 and the match 3-2. Mathias led the Royals with 16 kills.
The Royals will wrap up play on Friday, August 18 at the La Sierra Tournament as they take on the University of Antelope Valley at 12:00 PM.
