Glendale, Ariz.- Needing a win to remain in the fight for the top spot in the GSAC, Arizona Christian swept Embry-Riddle (AZ) on Friday evening.  Zuri Reeser (12 kills) and Ryan Coughlin (11 kills) paced the ACU offense.

Match Info

• Match scores
  • Set 1: ACU 25-22
  • Set 2: ACU 25-23
  • Set 3: ACU 25-16
• Records: Arizona Christian - 16-6, 11-2 GSAC, Embry-Riddle (AZ) -11-14, 5-9 GSAC
• NAIA Top 25 Rank: Arizona Christian - not ranked, Embry-Riddle (AZ)- not ranked
• Location: Firestorm Recreation Center, Arizona Christian University, Glendale, AZ

ACU Stats 

• Reeser - 12 kills
• Coughlin - 11 kills, 10 digs
• Emmi Jacobus - 7 kills, hit .600
• Haley Tedrow - 5 kills
• Madison Van Wie - 5 kills
• Becca Thomson - 21 assists
• Shelby Emich - 13 assists, 7 digs, 3 aces
• Kiah Lerma - 15 digs

Inside The Box Score

• Set one was a fight throughout to the tune of nine lead changes
• Behind 22-21, ACU had kills from Van Wie, Tedrow, and Kailey Reeves to highlight a 4-0 run to end the set
• Tedrow notched four kills in the opening set
• Set two started with an ERAU point followed by kills from Jacobus, Reeser, and Tedrow
• Leading 8-5, ACU saw ERAU take an 10-8 lead
• Trailing 15-13, the Firestorm countered to take leads of 16-15 and 17-16
• The Eagles used a 5-0 run and appeared to take control of the set
• But down 23-21, ACU answered with two Reeser kills and two ERAU attack errors (one Van Wie and Jacobus block) for 2-0 set lead
• In the third set, the Eagles were ahead 5-4
• However, thanks to tough serving from Emich (three aces) the Firestorm pulled away with a 10-0 point streak
• Coughlin sealed the deal with a kill

Thoughts from Coach Shelton
"We have been working on playing from behind for two weeks now.  I guess it paid off.  The girls believe in what they are doing and they are playing good volleyball.  Now many of them were sick today.  It was truly a team effort." 

Up Next
On Saturday, the Firestorm will celebrate their seniors before their final regular season home match of the season.  First serve against Hope International will come a little after 1:00 pm.