Rematch! In yesterdays volleyball match-up between the Yavapai College Roughriders and the visiting Arizona Western College Matadors, the home team was attempting to settle the score by doing what they could not do the previous day: win the series. However, even though Yavapai would present onlookers with early dominance, they would eventually fall 1-3 in many close-called games.
    Match one. This was by far the best example of what Yavapai can do at home when they are playing with concentration, laser focus, and top notch communication. Starting off strong with a great serve by #17 Makaya Moody, a big block by #8 Hanna Pereira and #15 Tiona Drumm, and a fake tip score by #10 Jocelyn Tavares, the Roughriders were off to the races! This game specifically showcased the improvement in communication between each player, whereas the team started off on a 13-2 run, which consisted of a tough save by Libero #13 Ciara Yearby and a huge block party from #4 Emily Hogg and #3 Micah Gardner. With two Tiona Drumm aces, a big Hogg spike, and a big kill by #16 Trinity Pilimai, it is safe to say that the home team absolutely DOMINATED this first game, winning the first match handily 25-7.
    Then reality set in for the second match. A frazzled Arizona Western did not want to be embarrassed like that again. So, they decided to drastically improve their game and take advantage of YC's weaknesses. Despite the beginning of this match being a close one, held together by three kills by Drumm, another Pereira block, and more diving efforts from Yearby, AWC had the knack of pulling ahead whenever Yavapai would have a few avoidable errors. Eventually, the visiting Matadors would pull ahead by 6 points and never look back, despite more offensive tries from Hogg, Pilimai, amd #1 Sara Horrell. AWC would win this match 18-25, tying with YC 1-1.
    With the series now tied 1-1, this third match was crucial for both sides. Starting off this game with more defense from Tavares, Pereira, and Gardner, this match would prove to be another close battle between the two foes. Drumm would set a spike for Gardner, #11 Hannah West would come in and immediately make offensive impacts, and some more spikes from Pereira, Drumm, and Pilimai; there was a lot of intensity coming from the home team. But similar to the previous match the day before, the visiting team had brought intensity of their own, and that caused them to keep these games very close, as they would start to pull ahead again. However, instead of keeping the lead, Arizona Western began to get sloppy, and big plays from Tavares and West would get the game back to a tie again at 24 points! However, even with many Yearby clutch diving saves and massive Gardner kills, Yavapai could not complete the comeback this time, losing this battle 26-24. 
    The final battle of the afternoon had YC struggling to build momentum back after losing two games in a row. Good serves from Tavares and great kills from Gardner and Drumm would make an excellent facade for how the team was feeling. But overall, Arizona Western outplayed the home team at almost every chance they got, as they would start off with a 4-11 run, ended by a Hogg spiking score. West and Hogg had major blocks, and even with Drumm saving the ball to set up a Gardner kill, the home team was still down 10-17. With the future looking bleak, Gardner stepped up to make more offensive rallying plays. Two back to back spikes brought the spark back, a Drumm ace would capitalize on the tired but determined visitors, and more aces from Moody would certainly help keep the game within arm's length. YC would go on a 5-0 run capped off by a Tiona Drumm kill, but AWC knew how to finish off their opponents. YC would fall in this match-up 22-25, and Arizona Western win the games 3-1.