Fullerton, CA - The Hope International women's volleyball team (8-5, 2-1 GSAC) bounced back from their first GSAC loss with a come from behind 3-2 thriller win over the Benedictine University Mesa Redhawks on Friday evening at home in the Darling Pavilion.
The Royals came out strong to start the game as they took an early 10-3 lead led by kills from Kat Schwab, Addie Mathias, Cassidy Koffroth and Yale Spoja. The Redhawks came surging back to take an 18-14 advantage but the Royals would answer with a 6-0 run led by four kills from Mathias to retake a 20-18 advantage. The Redhawks would again come back to take the set 25-23 and a 1-0 lead. The Royals would once again get off to a good start in the second set but it would be the Redhawks who take a 15-11 advantage midway through the set. The Royals didn't give up as they slowly but surely came back to make it 19-17 before going on a 5-1 run finished off by a block from Yale Spoja and Rachael Street to retake a 22-20 lead. The Redhawks weren't finished either as they tied it 23-23 but the Royals came right back with back to back kills from Mathias and Schwab to take the set 25-23 and tie the game 1-1.
The third set was a battle early on as a Koffroth kill put the Royals up 5-3 but the Redhawks seized control with a 5-0 run before going on to lead 13-9. The Royals would call timeout to regroup but the Redhawks kept the pedal down as they took a 20-12 advantage. The Royals would fight to make it 22-17 with back to back kills from Koffroth but the Redhawks closed out the set winning 25-18 and taking a 2-1 lead. The Royals looked to answer in the second set but the Redhawks would take an early 6-3 lead. The Royals then seized control with an 8-0 run with great serving from Mia Luna to take an 11-6 lead. The Redhawks rallied to get within 13-10 but the Royals answered with a 7-1 run led by three kills from Koffroth to take a commanding 20-11 lead. The Royals then closed out the set on a kill by Rachel Holmberg to win 25-15 and tie the game 2-2.
The game continued to live up to the hype in the fifth set as the teams went back and forth with a kill by Spoja giving the Royals an 8-7 lead midway through the set. The Redhawks would rally to go up 10-8 but the Royals would stop their momentum with a timeout. The Royals then went on a 5-0 run with three kills in a row from Koffroth giving them a 13-11 lead. The Redhawks weren't done yet as they rallied to tie it and force extra points. The Royals then won a thriller 18-16 with a kill by Mathias and a forced attack error sealing a thrilling 3-2 upset win. Koffroth led with 18 kills, Stacey Dawes led with 18 assists and Annie Nugent led with 15 digs.
The Royals continue GSAC action at home as they host Park-Gilbert on Saturday, September 28 at 2:00 PM in the Darling Pavilion.
