NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The College of Southern Nevada women's volleyball team saw its three-match winning streak come to an end Wednesday night, falling to Mesa Community College in four sets, 25-21, 14-25, 25-18, 25-13, in a nonconference matchup at the Coyote Event Center.
Coming off back-to-back ACCAC victories over Yavapai College, the Lady Coyotes looked to carry that momentum into Wednesday's contest against a Mesa squad that entered the match with just two losses on the season. Southern Nevada responded to an opening-set defeat with a dominant second-set performance, but the Thunderbirds regained control over the final two frames to secure the victory.
The loss dropped CSN to 10-9 overall while leaving its ACCAC record unchanged at 4-3. Mesa improved to 11-2 on the season.
The Thunderbirds claimed a competitive opening set 25-21 despite Southern Nevada holding a 13-6 advantage in kills. The Lady Coyotes struggled with offensive consistency, committing 11 attack errors in the frame as Mesa capitalized on the opportunities.
CSN responded with its strongest stretch of the evening in the second set. The Lady Coyotes recorded 11 kills while committing just three errors, hitting .211 and limiting Mesa to a negative .135 hitting percentage. Southern Nevada controlled the set on its way to a convincing 25-14 victory, evening the match at one set apiece.
The momentum, however, shifted back to Mesa in the third. The Thunderbirds improved their offensive efficiency, hitting .226 while limiting Southern Nevada to a .000 hitting percentage. Mesa claimed the set 25-18 before carrying that momentum into the fourth, closing out the match with a 25-13 victory.
Tayla Singleton led the Lady Coyotes offensively with a team-high 11 kills on 31 attempts while adding seven digs and a service ace. Mia Scott followed with nine kills and a solo block, while Paige Gates delivered one of CSN's most efficient performances, recording seven kills on 17 attacks with just two errors for a .294 hitting percentage.
Briley Fawson contributed six kills and two total blocks, while LillyAnne Christensen added three kills, a solo block and two block assists.
Setter Libbie Ferreiro directed the Southern Nevada offense with 29 assists while contributing eight digs and two service aces. Madison Ortiz added three assists, eight digs and an ace.
Defensively, Kody Wengler anchored the Lady Coyotes' back row with a match-high 16 digs. Ferreiro, Ortiz and Isabella Liugalua each finished with eight digs as Southern Nevada collected 58 digs in the contest.
Mesa's defensive presence at the net proved to be a deciding factor. The Thunderbirds recorded 11 solo blocks and 18 block assists, led by Abigail Swogger, who finished with eight solo blocks and three block assists. Kaylee O'Conner paced Mesa's offense with nine kills, while Swogger added six kills and finished with a match-high 15.5 points.
Despite finishing with more kills than Mesa, 39-34, Southern Nevada struggled to maintain offensive efficiency against the Thunderbirds' blocking attack. The Lady Coyotes committed 31 attack errors and finished with a .058 hitting percentage, while Mesa hit .081 and recorded 12 service aces.
The setback closes Southern Nevada's brief nonconference break as the Lady Coyotes turn their attention back to ACCAC competition.
Southern Nevada returns to conference play Friday, Oct. 16, hosting Central Arizona College at 7 p.m. at the Coyote Event Center. The Lady Coyotes and Vaqueras will meet again Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m. as CSN looks to build on its recent conference success.
