PRESCOTT - In its 19th match of the season, Friday night was just the third home match of the year for the Yavapai College volleyball team.
With a four-game win over Mesa, the Roughriders moved to 3-0 at the Storm Center and got back to 3-3 in the ACCAC.
Yavapai (8-11, 3-3) was dominant at times, only dropping the second game when it got a bit out of sync. But it was able to finish off the Thunderbirds 30-24, 26-30, 30-14 and 33-31.
"I was overly impressed with Mesa's defense and their will," Yavapai coach Matt Cohen said. "That third game was nice because we really took it to them, but other than that...that last game was real indicative of the match. We had to earn everything."
The first and third games were textbook for the Lady 'Riders. The passing continually got the ball to Brittnee Eiler at the net to set the table for YC's finishers.
"Our passing and our service also," Cohen said. "We gain a lot of confidence off of our server. But we missed six serves that second game. And that's the first thing I said to them. We lost by four and missed six serves."
Although the second game got away, the Roughriders were too much for Mesa.
Eiler came up with 53 assists and had seven "dumps," or surprise sets, that she guided over the net into a gap for a point.
"This was her best match I've seen her play, and I've known her about three years," Cohen said.
Eiler spread out her assists fairly evenly.
"I'm still just shooting the ball everywhere," Eiler said. "Trying to get it to everyone."
Brittney Strumer led the way with 14 kills, followed by Brittany Garcia with 13, Jennifer Hess with 12 and Nikki Wanninger with 9.
Stacia Wolff led the way with 21 digs, while Garcia added 14.
"Our passing was really good and that enables the offense," Strumer said. "We've played pretty much the hardest teams in the conference so I think that's why our record is how it is. I think when we come around we'll be pretty good."
Yavapai has two more home games next week. On Wednesday it hosts Pima, and defending conference champ Arizona Western comes to town on Friday.
Cohen said it's important for the 'Riders to start going 2-0 instead of splitting their weeks in order to keep pace for a shot at the playoffs.
"We've got to fix our play-well-at-home and struggle-on-the-road," he said. "Unless we're going to go 9-0 at home, I don't want to count on that."
