MESA, Arizona, October 21, 2024. – After Team Abercrombie and Team De La Cruz-Mejía closed Week Two with an exciting result, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if the two squads fashioned another match to remember in Monday night’s Week Three finale.
Not only did the two teams deliver in the rematch, but they sent the fans at Arizona Athletic Grounds home with a match they won’t soon forget as Team Abercrombie thwarted a comeback bid by Team De La Cruz-Mejía to secure a 75-72 Golden Set win in Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball action.
The memorable victory allowed Team Abercrombie to close Week Three with a perfect 3-0 record, while Team De La Cruz-Mejía dropped to 2-1.
Libero Morgan Hentz posted an AU Pro Volleyball season-high 22 digs to capture MVP 1 laurels and 318 leaderboard points, while outside hitter Temi Thomas-Ailara smashed 14 kills on a .385 hitting percentage with seven digs and a solo block in route to MVP 2 honors and 293 leaderboard points.
Captain Bethania De La Cruz-Mejía garnered MVP 3 plaudits with 19 kills, including eight kills in the third set to help force the Golden Set, while adding seven digs, a service ace and a block to collect 216 points.
Outside hitter Lindsey Vander Weide pitched in eight kills and eight digs for Team Abercrombie, while setter Alisha Childress added 36 assists and 15 digs in the victory.
Outside hitter Claire Hoffman downed 10 kills, including nine in the third set, with 11 digs for Team De La Cruz-Mejía and setter Natalia Valentin-Anderson guided the offense with 36 assists in the loss.
Four players finished with 11 digs for Team De La Cruz-Mejía.
How It Happened: Team Abercrombie edged Team De La Cruz-Mejía, 25-21, in the opening set and needed a few extra points in the second frame to open up a 51-45 match advantage. Team De La Cruz-Mejía battled back in the third set, 25-19, to tie the match at 70-all and send the match to a Golden Set where Team Abercrombie secured the victory.
Leaderboard Impact: Abercrombie remains in the top spot through three weeks with 2,914 points, while De La Cruz-Mejía stays in second with 2,709 points. Hentz jumped four spots in the Week Three finale and sits in third with 2,021 points to return to the captain’s seat in Week Four.
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