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Hope International University

MVB vs BENU
(C) Liza Rosales
3
Winner Hope International HOPE INT 16-7, 6-4
2
Benedictine Mesa (AZ BENEDICT 17-6, 7-3
Winner
Hope International HOPE INT
16-7, 6-4
3
Final
2
Benedictine Mesa (AZ BENEDICT
17-6, 7-3
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Hope International HOPE INT 25 14 25 26 15 (3)
Benedictine Mesa (AZ BENEDICT 22 25 20 28 12 (2)

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball | | Robert Nilsen

Royals Advance to GSAC Final with 3-2 Upset Over No. 7 Redhawks

Mesa, AZ - The Hope International men's volleyball team (16-7) shocked the No. 7 Benedictine Mesa University Redhawks in a five set thriller winning 3-2 in the GSAC Semifinals to punch their spot into the GSAC Championship game on Monday evening on the road in Mesa, AZ.

The Royals jumped out to an early 8-2 lead in the first set led by three kills from Julian Zavala. The Redhawks didn't back down as they slowly but surely got back into the game as they closed within 11-10. The Royals would extend their lead back to 15-13 off another kill from Zavala but the Redhawks came right back to tie it 15-15 and then 18-18. The Royals would quickly take the lead back with a kill by Sean Seaman and an ace by Kyler Tufuga to make it 20-18. The Redhawks tried to come back and tie it but the Royals held on for a 25-22 win off a block by Damon Potter to take a 1-0 lead. The Redhawks looked to answer in the second set as they raced out to a 12-7 advantage. The Royals tried to regroup after a timeout but the Redhawks had all the answers as they extended their lead to 17-8. The Royals looked for a response as a kill by Cole Oliver made it 21-13 but the Redhawks continued to hold the lead as they took the second set 25-14 to tie the game 1-1.

The Royals would take the advantage back in the third set as they went on a 5-0 run finished off by a kill from Cole Oliver to take a 12-6 lead. The Royals would go on to lead 15-9 but the Redhawks rallied to make it 15-12 but the Royals held strong keeping a consistent three point lead before a service error and a block by Oliver sealed a 25-20 win to give the Royals a 2-1 lead. The Royals looked to close out the game in the fourth set as a kill by Coby Prowse set up by Tufuga put the Royals up 10-6. The Redhawks had other ideas as they rallied to tie it 12-12. Once again the Royals would take the lead back with a kill by Oliver and a block by Potter and Tufuga but again the Redhawks came back to take a 15-14 lead. The Redhawks would go on to lead 20-18 but this time the Royals rallied to take a 24-23 lead off a kill from Prowse giving them match point. The Redhawks weren't about to go down easily at home as they rallied to win 28-26 and tie the game 2-2.

The Royals started off point for point with the Redhawks early in the fifth set but eventually the Redhawks would pull out to a 9-6 lead. The Royals would come storming back to take a 10-9 lead off a kill and ace from Oliver. The Redhawks tied the game after a timeout but the Royals pressed forward with two kills from Prowse and Javier Castillo to take a 13-10 lead. The Redhawks tried to rally but the Royals closed out the game with Tufuga setting Oliver up for the game winning kill to win 15-12 and 3-2. Oliver led the Royals with 23 kills while Tufuga led with 52 assists.

The Royals advance to the GSAC Championship game and will take on No. 1 The Master's on Thursday, April 17 for a spot in the NAIA Championships.
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