Surprise, Ariz.- For the second match in a row, Arizona Christian (RV) beat a top five ranked NAIA team as the Firestorm beat No. 4 OUAZ on Wednesday night.  Chris Beck delivered 28 kills for the second match in a row.
 
Match Info

• Match score: Arizona Christian- 3, OUAZ- 1
  • Set 1: ACU 25-23
  • Set 2: OUAZ 25-17
  • Set 3: ACU 25-22
  • Set 4: ACU 25-23
• Records: Arizona Christian- 10-9, 4-5 GSAC, OUAZ- 12-6, 5-4 GSAC
• NAIA Top 10 Rank: Arizona Christian- RV, OUAZ- 4
• Location: Faith Arena, OUAZ, Surprise, AZ

 
ACU Stats

• Chris Beck- 28 kills on 51 swings, hit .451
• James Hansen- 7 kills
• Nate Mayfield- 6 kills, hit .455
• Cade McGee- 5 kills
• Thomas Johannesen- 43 assists, 4 kills
• Hudson Harms- 5 digs

 
Inside the Box Score

• Set one went back and forth with ACU holding the largest lead of three points and OUAZ eventually holding a 18-17 lead
• A Beck kill and McGee ace bookended a 4-0 run to take a 21-18 edge
• OUAZ forced ties at 21-21, 22-22, and 23-23
• Beck forced set point with a kill before OUAZ ended the set with an attack error
• Tied 2-2 in the second set, the Spirit used a 5-0 run to take control of the set
• Behind 7-6 in the third set, a 5-0 run by ACU moved the Firestorm in front for good in the set
• Johannesen served up an ace to cap the run
• A one point lead by either team for most of the fourth set came down to a 23-22 OUAZ advantage
• Beck delivered a kill and McGee teamed with Korbin Torres for a block to reach match point
• Another OUAZ attack error sealed the straight upset win for Arizona Christian

 
Thoughts from Coach Bruns
"Really excited for the guys and this victory over OUAZ.  We lost our edge in the second set but we were able to get it back and finish strong in the third and fourth.  Some of our leadership made big plays when it mattered.  Cade got a huge block in the fourth set to make it 24-23. Nate made a clutch serve to finish it off and made huge plays to finish the third set.  James played well again and passed the ball great.  And for Hudson as a freshman to pass the way he did under pressure is huge."

"We have always known we are a good team, but now we really believe in it and it is showing in how we are performing."


Up Next
One last push for the playoffs will come on Saturday as Arizona Christian will travel to Santa Clarita, CA, to compete against No. 5 The Master's.  TMU and OUAZ will face-off on Friday.  Add in Menlo and those four teams are fighting for the final three spots in next week's GSAC