Eagles Fall in Road Match against Bluejays

HILLSBORO, Kan. – Avila volleyball (6-15, 2-7 KCAC) hit the road the weekend bound for Hillsboro, where the Eagles were defeated by an upstart Tabor team in three sets on Saturday afternoon.

This year's Bluejay team looks very little like the Bluejay teams of the past few years, and even though their conference record isn't great, the Bluejays were the better team on Saturday in all phases. Avila never hit over .060 in a set in a match (Tabor was over .100 in all three), and the Bluejays out-served and out-blocked the Eagles throughout the day.

All three sets were competitive, but Tabor ultimately won all three by fairly comfortable margins – at least, as far as volleyball games are normally concerned. The most points Avila scored in a set was 20 en route to a 3-0 win for the home team.

Top Tabor hitter Sammie Saunders carrier most of the offensive heavy lifting, recording an impressive 16 kills in just three sets on .209 hitting; Juliana Alaniz added eight on .333 hitting; Kenna Brandes led all players with 22 digs. Avila was able to work top outside hitter Maddie Jones back into the offense after a few games out; Siobhan Dittmer paced the Eagles with seven kills on .357 hitting, while Paige Huhman had five kills and zero errors; Daphne Gardner recorded a double-double; Kyleighn Block led the team with 12 digs.

Up next for Avila is an all-important three-match week which will go a long way towards deciding the Eagles' postseason fate. Up first though is a non-conference matchup against College of the Ozarks, the second leg of a home-and-home series between the Eagles and the Bobcats. First serve in Mabee Fieldhouse on Tuesday, October 24 is set for 6 PM; as always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the Avila Sports Network with Max Williams on the call from Kansas City.