Clarksville, Tenn — In a spirited contest, the Eastern Arizona College Lady Gila Monsters put up a strong fight but ultimately fell 3-1 to Miami Dade College in the opening round of national tournament play. Despite a thrilling opening-set victory, EAC couldn’t hold off the aggressive offense and defensive adjustments of nationally ranked Miami Dade.
Set-by-Set Summary
Set 1: Lady Gila Monsters Shine Early
EAC came out strong, showing grit and determination in a back-and-forth first set. Behind the stellar offensive play of Elisa Saunders and Brianna O’Donnal, the Lady Gila Monsters capitalized on Miami Dade’s early attack errors to clinch a nail-biting 27-25 victory. EAC’s blocking duo of Melanie Merrill and Taisiia Kalchenko made a significant impact, keeping Miami Dade on their toes.
Set 2: Miami Dade Levels the Match
The momentum shifted in the second set as Miami Dade responded with a dominating performance. Despite solid defense from EAC, Miami Dade’s attack, led by Angelica Rodriguez and Juliana Laguado Raigosa, proved too strong. The Lady Gila Monsters struggled to counter MDC’s .412 hitting percentage and fell 25-16.
Set 3: Eastern Arizona Fights On
EAC fought valiantly in the third set, with Saunders and Merrill continuing to lead the charge. However, Miami Dade’s balanced attack and timely blocks disrupted the Lady Gila Monsters’ rhythm. Despite flashes of brilliance from Rylee Pitney and O’Donnal, EAC was unable to gain momentum and dropped the set 25-19.
Set 4: A Hard-Fought Finish
Determined to push the match to a fifth set, EAC showed heart and resilience in the fourth. Saunders delivered key points, and Merrill’s blocking efforts kept EAC within striking distance. However, Miami Dade’s depth and clutch performances from Laguado Raigosa and Luyeisy Marquez sealed a 25-20 win, ending EAC’s comeback hopes.
Notable Performances
- EAC Standouts:
- Elisa Saunders: 11 kills, .310 hitting percentage, and 13 points.
- Brianna O’Donnal: 11 kills and key defensive contributions.
- Melanie Merrill: 17 digs and 4 total blocks.
- Team Defense: The Lady Gila Monsters recorded 15 blocks and 74 digs
Despite the loss, the Lady Gila Monsters showcased their resilience and ability to compete against top-ranked teams. EAC will now face Odessa College on November 21st at 11:00 AM Central Time in the consolidation bracket.
