On day 3 of the Dalton Overstreet Invitational the Yavapai College Roughriders battled the #2 ranked Snow College Badgers. Snow College was fresh off an appearance in the national championship match just 4 months ago.

Yavapai's passers could not handle the tough serves from the Badgers in set 1 and the team fell 17-25. Prior to the match the Yavapai players and coaches talked about the importance of winning set 2 in a tough match like this. Yavapai prevailed 26-24 and took a 2 sets to 1 lead with a 3rd set victory, 27-25. The #2 ranked Badgers would not go home quietly and forced a 5th set by winning the 4th set 21-25. Following a Yavapai timeout with the score ties 6-6 in the 5th set an incredibly long and difficult rally ensued. Snow College prevailed taking the lead at 7-6 and never looked back while running off 3 more straight points. Yavapai took the final timeout down 6-10 and eventually got as close as 9-12 but Snow College proved to be too much and eventually Yavapai fell 10-15.

The Roughrider offense was inconsistent throughout the match and a big factor in that was the enormous block of the Badgers. Yavapai was only able to total 39 kills but did produce 75 digs and 20 block assists to go along with 7 service aces. Freshman middle blocker Jada Schultz led the team in hitting percentage at .273 with kills, 0 errors, on 11 attempts. Brooke Parker (freshman) and Natalie Horsley (sophomore) split the setting duties and contributed 18 and 11 assists respectively. The only Roughrider to reach double digit kills was freshman outside hitter Kierslynn Wright who produced another double / double with 13 kills and 15 digs. Sophomore libero Brooklyn Holland had a team high 21 digs and added 1 of the team's 7 service aces.

Coach Zac Shaver said "I was very proud of the effort and intensity that our team displayed especially against such a high level opponent and after playing 4 tough matches over the past 2 days! Even though the result was a loss this match will lead our team to more wins in the future."

Photo credit to Chris Henstra