Dixie State University’s women’s volleyball team bounced back from a loss Thursday to win 3-0 Saturday against Azusa Pacific University.
The win puts DSU at 13-2 in Pacific West Conference play this season with an overall record of 16-7. DSU plays its next four games at home where it is undefeated this season (6-0).
DSU had to fight from behind in the first set, falling behind by seven, but it put together a late run to finish the Cougars 25-23.
“I think the main reason we won was because we wanted it so bad,” said outside hitter Maddie Rex, a senior business major from Tucson, Arizona. “They are a great team, and it could have gone to either of us, but we just executed when it mattered.”
The match was close, with Azusa and DSU battling back and forth, but the Storm were able to hold the Cougars off with two more set wins at 25-21.
Sophomore middle blocker Lindsey Jones led the team with 15 kills, and senior right side Kendahl Weiland had 12.
“The girls deserve all the credit,” head coach Robyn Felder said. “They are fighters. Our last two weeks have been long road trips, little sleep, and early practices. They have taken care of their bodies and done what they needed to do to finish strong.”
The win was a bounce back from a loss in a rematch Thursday to Cal Baptist University.
DSU controlled play in the first set, winning 25-18. The next three sets were decided by three points or less, but all went to the advantage of Cal Baptist.
The teams played a tight match the week before in St. George, which ended in a 3-2 victory for DSU. The Storm are ranked second in the Pacific West Conference with their 13-2 conference record. The remaining five games will strongly impact DSU’s chances at a conference championship.
“It’s definitely in the back of our minds, but we have a long way to go,” Felder said. “We need to finish strong in all five remaining games. It’s pretty exciting to think that this program has taken such huge steps to get ourselves in this position.”
The Storm will now match up against all four Hawaii teams this week with a re-match against Brigham Young University-Hawaii on today. Dixie State lost to BYU-H in Hawaii 3-0 on Oct. 17.
