RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Golden Eagles faced Pacific Union College (Angwin, Calif.) in an exciting match up against Adventist Universities. La Sierra bested the Pioneers in a quick three set match (25-11, 25-14, 25-17).
Michele Mendizabal led the offense with 12 kills, 10 digs, and 2 blocks. Ayana Felton added 7 kills, 13 digs, and 1 block. Torri Lambert contributed 7 kills, 5 digs, and 3 blocks. The Golden Eagles also credit Keeley Meka and Brittani Bentley with 15 and 13 assists, respectively.
The Golden Eagles totaled 42 kills, hitting a .280 clip collectively. They committed 4 less errors than their opponent, and fared better than the Pioneers with 2 more total block assists.
The Golden Eagles faced Simpson University (Redding, Calif.) in a late Friday afternoon match. La Sierra took the match against the Red Hawks in three sets (25-19, 25-15, 25-14).
Mendizabal and Felton again came out strong in kills totaling 25 amongst the two of them. Amaya Thomas and Lambert contributed 9 kills combined. Thomas dominated the court in block assists with 6 on the match which is a season high for her. Tamia Cephus added 11 digs, Mendizabal 10, and Felton 14. Meka came in hot with 20 assists, and Bentley with 11 assists.
The team totaled 40 kills, 14 block assists, 38 assists, 50 digs, and committed 12 less errors than their opponents. They had a hitting percentage of .257.
The Golden Eagles faced UC Merced (Merced, Calif.) in an electric five set match Saturday night. The match concluded with a La Sierra victory (25-15, 22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-13).
Mendizabal dominated the court with 17 kills, 4 assist, and 23 digs. Felton ended the game with 12 kills, 26 digs, and 1 block assist. Lambert contributed 6 kills and 3 block assists. Cameryn Idema had 6 kills, 7 digs, and 2 block assists. Meka and Bentley added 27 and 13 assists. Meka tied her season high of assists in the game. Cephus also added 23 digs of her own.
UC Merced fared better kills, assist, and digs, but the Golden Eagles were able to counter that by committing less errors and more blocks to put them on top.
Up Next: Golden Eagles travel to Arizona for a three day stretch first facing Benedictine University Thursday, October 20 at 6 p.m., next Embry-Riddle (Prescott, Ariz.) Friday, October 21 at 2 p.m., and finishing at Park University-Gilbert Saturday, October 22 at 7 p.m.
