PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- The Yavapai College volleyball team dropped a tough, gritty match Friday night against the No. 12-ranked Artichokes of Scottsdale Community College in five sets. With the loss, the Roughriders are now 11-11 on the season and 5-4 in conference play. 

Set one started out exactly the way Yavapai scripted it as it jumped out to a 9-4 lead. After freshman outside hitter Kierslynn Wright notched a kill to go up 10-5, she took over serving duties. Already off to a hot start, Wright amplified it with back-to-back aces and after a nice block and a kill from sophomore middle blocker Paiten Langston, the Roughriders found themselves with a 14-5 lead. 

Later in the set, sophomore right hitter Samantha Holman brought the house down with a nicely placed kill that caught Scottsdale sleeping to go up 21-13. Wright eventually logged the set-winning kill for a 25-15 victory. 

Set two was a rollercoaster of emotions as the Roughriders trailed lightly for most of the set, however, saw the Artichokes go on a big run to go up 23-15. Down big, sophomore libero Brooklyn Holland took over serving duties and guided the Roughriders all the way to a 24-23 score in favor of Scottsdale. 

Unfortunately for the Roughriders, the Artichokes prevailed and won the set 25-23 to tie the match. 

Set three saw a nice start for Yavapai with a couple of nice plays by Wright, Holman and sophomore middle blocker Keyaira Gravitt for a 13-9 Roughrider lead. 

That lead, however, evaporated quickly as Scottsdale ratted off six points in a row to go up 15-13. After the run, the Artichokes would not trail again and took the set with a 25-20 score and led the match 2-1. 

With their backs against the wall, the Roughriders went back-and-forth with the Artichokes in set four. Tied 8-8, the Roughriders went up 12-8 and eventually 18-12. The momentum then swung the way of Scottsdale as it scored eight-consecutive points to go up 20-18. 

After the Scottsdale run, it was all Roughriders as Gravitt and Wright each registered a pair of kills and Yavapai took the set 25-21, forcing a winner-take-all set five. 

After being tied 5-5 in set five, Scottsdale took 10 of the next 11 points to win the set 15-6 and match 3-2. 

Up Next
Yavapai's next match is Wednesday in Prescott at Walraven Gymnasium at 7 p.m. against the Matadors of Arizona Western College.