Aztecs Volleyball falls in opening contest to Chandler-Gilbert CC at Region I Tournament

The Pima Community College volleyball team (12-17) opened play at the NJCAA Region I, Division II Tournament on Thursday at Scottsdale Community College.

• The No. 3 seeded Aztecs fell to No. 2 Chandler-Gilbert Community College in straight sets 25-15, 25-19, 25-23. The Aztecs will play in a consolation match on Friday.
• Sophomore Abby Whatton's (Canyon del Oro HS) kill cut Pima's deficit to 10-9 in the first set, but the Coyotes scored four straight points to take a 14-9 advantage. The Coyotes scored another three straight points towards the end of the game to take the first set.
• Whatton had a kill and followed it up with an ace to match Pima's lead at 14-11 in the second set but the Coyotes scored 10 of the next 12 points to take the lead at 21-16. The Aztecs cut the deficit to four points at 22-18 but could not get any closer as they trailed 2-0 in the match.
• The Aztecs and the Coyotes went back-and-forth in the third set as neither team held an advantage by more than four points for much of the set. Chandler-Gilbert was up 20-16 but the Aztecs fought back with a kill from freshman Taylor Crawford (Ironwood Ridge HS) and two straight aces by freshman Jasmin Joseph (Tanque Verde HS) forcing the Coyotes to use a timeout. Whatton's kill tied it at 20-20.
  The Aztecs took the lead when Crawford put down a kill and freshman Kenna Simon had two straight kills of her own to make it 23-21. The Coyotes scored four straight points to win the set and the match.
• Whatton finished the match with 10 kills, nine digs, two blocks and one ace while freshman Haylee Gilleland (Flagstaff HS) closed out the match with seven kills.
• Sophomore Sasha Ross (Canyon del Oro HS) posted five kills, 10 digs and two blocks and Crawford had 22 assists, eight digs and five kills.
• Sophomore Morgan Hains (Canyon del Oro HS) finished with 18 digs and Joseph had three aces.

The Aztecs will play in a consolation match on Friday at 11:00 a.m. Their opponent will be the loser of the No. 1 Scottsdale Community College/No. 4 Glendale Community College match from Thursday evening.