MESA, Arizona, October 20, 2024. – A trio of players finished with double-digit kills as Team De La Cruz-Mejía fended off a third-set push from Team Drews for a 66-64 Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball victory on Sunday afternoon at Arizona Athletic Grounds.
Team De La Cruz-Mejía stays perfect in Week Three at 2-0, while Team Drews drops to 0-2.
Opposite, Khat Bell finished with a season-high 15 kills on a .351 hitting percentage with eight digs and a pair of solo blocks to garner MVP 1 honors and a season-high 361 leaderboard points.
Outside hitter Claire Hoffman struck at a .435 clip with a season-high 12 kills and eight digs for Team De La Cruz-Mejía to claim MVP 2 honors and 309 leaderboard points, while middle blocker Tori Dixon put down five solo blocks with two block assists, four digs and a pair of kills to receive MVP 3 plaudits and 261 points.
Captain Bethania De La Cruz-Mejía finished with 13 kills and four digs in the victory, while setter Natalia Valentin-Anderson dished out 38 assists with eight digs. Libero Manami Kojima chipped in a match-high 14 digs in the victory for Team De La Cruz-Mejía.
Outside hitter Brooke Nuneviller led the way for Team Drews with 10 kills, while setter Sydney Hilley pitched in 30 assists in the setback. Libero Mary Lake paced the squad with 11 digs.
How It Happened: Team De La Cruz-Mejía opened up a seven-point advantage with a 25-18 triumph in the opening frame before upping the lead to 50-39 after two sets. Team Drews avoided being swept by picking up a 25-16 win in the final frame, but Team De La Cruz-Mejía held on for a 66-64 match victory.
Leaderboard Impact: De La Cruz-Mejía rose back into the top spot on the leaderboard but holds a slim 63-point edge over opposite Brittany Abercrombie pending Sunday’s nightcap between Team Member-Meneh and Team Abercrombie. Bell, meanwhile, surged six spots up the leaderboard into eighth place.
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