Recap: Childress, De La Cruz cruise to victory over Team Drews
DALLAS — Outside hitter Bethania De La Cruz tallied a match-high 18 kills and setter Alisha Childress registered a double-double as Team De La Cruz completed Week Four of the 2022 Athletes Unlimited Volleyball season with a 73-64 victory over Team Drews at Fair Park Coliseum on Saturday evening.
Team De La Cruz, which claimed the match by set scores of 25-19, closed the penultimate week of the season with a 2-1 record, while Team Drews suffered its third loss in a row and finished with a 0-3 mark.
De La Cruz, who tallied 10 or more kills for the ninth consecutive match, was the lone member of Team De La Cruz to record a double-digit kill performance. Opposite hitter Taylor Fricano and outside hitter Cassidy Lichtman each added six kills in the win while Childress tallied 33 assists and 15 digs.
Libero Nomaris Vélez Agosto added a match-high 17 digs in the win for Team De La Cruz, which also authored 10 blocks.
Team captain Dani Drews finished with a team-high 13 kills on 53 attempts for Team Drews, while outside hitter Madison Villines added 11 kills and eight digs. Libero Morgan Hentz tallied 12 digs while setters Val Nichol and Carli Lloyd combined for 33 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Led by six kills and four digs from its captain, Team De La Cruz took the early lead in the match with a 25-19 victory during the opening set. De La Cruz added eight more kills in the second frame as her squad widened the overall advantage to 50-39 with a 25-20 verdict. Team Drews battled back to salvage the final set with a 25-23 result, avoiding the sweep.
MATCH NOTES
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De La Cruz owns 10 double-digit kill performances after her 18 kills on Saturday night … In addition, she has reached 15 or more kills in each of the last four outings.
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Vélez Agosto reached double-digit digs for the ninth time this year, including the third time in the last four outings.
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Childress finished with her second double-double of the season … She also had 34 assists and 12 digs against Team Drews on Mar. 30 to begin Week Three.
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Drews remains the only player to reach double-digit kills in all 12 outings this season.
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Hentz, who entered the evening as the league digs leader, reached double-digit digs for the 11th time in 12 appearances this season.
MATCH MVPS
- #1 – Bethania De La Cruz (Team De La Cruz, +60)
- #2 – Molly McCage (Team De La Cruz, +40)
- #3 – Alisha Childress (Team De La Cruz, +20)
POINT-EARNERS
Team De La Cruz secured 140 of the 180 win points after winning the first two sets and the match, while Team Drews tallied the final 40 points with its third set victory. De La Cruz, who earned MVP 1 honors, led all players in the match with 348 points, while Childress was next with 264 points in addition to a MVP 3 selection. Middle blocker Molly McCage secured MVP 2 notice and finished with 226 points.
