YUMA, Ariz. - The 9th-ranked CSI Volleyball team came up just short in what was a thrilling five set match against Arizona Western in the Rocky Mountain District Championship, falling 23-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-18, 13-15 meaning they will have to wait until Wednesday's Selection Show to see if they receive a bid to the NJCAA National Tournament.
The Golden Eagles headed down to Yuma to try and do something that nobody had yet done this season, and that is knock off the Matadors who entered Monday nights affair a with a perfect 27-0 record. The game had everything, high energy, back and forth momentum swings, and two teams fighting for a ticket to Hutchinson, Kansas and the NJCAA National Tournament. All three sets that the Golden Eagles lost were by a slim two-point margin as the teams traded punches back and forth, swapping set victories all the way to the end. With the score tied 13-13 late in the fifth set, the Golden Eagles found themselves on the wrong side of a crucial coaches challenge, that gave the point, and the side out to the Matadors, who closed the door, as a Golden Eagle block attempt landed out of bounds clinching the victory for Arizona Western.
Blocks were the name of the game for the Golden Eagles as they finished with an astounding 24 blocks as a team, led by the tandem in the middle,
Laura Grasel with 11 block assists, and
Isadora Bueno with nine.
Vivian Goto paced the offensive attack with a team high 15 kills and added 15 digs, as
Emerson Heatwole had a game high 32 digs. Dalayni Bridnley dished out 28 assists and had 11 digs in the loss.
The Golden Eagles now await their fate, as Wednesday's Selection Show will decide if the Golden Eagles will receive an at-large bid to the NJCAA Natonal Tournament. The Golden Eagles sit at 22-8 on the season, and have been ranked inside the NJCAA National poll for the duration of the season.
