Aztec Volleyball Slips Again: Suffers Third Consecutive Defeat to Glendale Gauchos

The Pima Community College volleyball team faced a tough defeat on Friday, losing to Glendale Community College in three closely fought sets at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium. The match marked the Aztecs’ third consecutive loss, increasing their record to 11-11 overall and 8-5 in the ACCAC.

Competing against the No. 22 ranked Gauchos, Pima lost the sets 25-23, 27-25, and 26-24. Each set showcased intense competition, as both teams traded leads and fought hard for every point. In the opening set, the Aztecs fell behind early, trailing by five points at 12-7. However, Pima displayed resilience, scoring seven of the next nine points to tie the set at 14-14. Sophomore Haylee Gilleland contributed significantly with a key block, while freshman Addy Fisher served an ace to even the score.

As the set continued, the Aztecs maintained their momentum, taking a brief lead at 18-16 after two consecutive kills from Gilleland. Despite holding a 22-19 advantage, Pima could not fend off a late rally from the Gauchos, who clinched the set with two points in quick succession.

The second set saw the Gauchos gain an early lead. After trailing 9-5, Pima rallied back, scoring eight out of ten points thanks to contributions from Simon and McReynolds. The Aztecs surged ahead to 20-15 but were unable to maintain that advantage. With the score knotted at 25-25, Glendale capitalized on a net-serve from Pima and secured the set.

The third set began with Pima taking a slight lead, but they quickly found themselves down 18-13. A spirited comeback, sparked by two aces from freshman Julia Weatherbie, allowed them to tie at 21-21. The teams exchanged points until Glendale netted the final two points, sealing the match.

Gilleland led the Aztecs with 15 kills and three blocks. Kenna Simon added eight kills, while Fisher recorded three aces. Pima’s next challenge will be on the road against Phoenix College this Wednesday at 7 p.m., as they look to regain momentum in the ACCAC Division II conference.