Recap: Pressley registers double-double in Team Hilley win, 71-66

HOW IT HAPPENED

Team Hilley took the early advantage with a 25-15 victory in the opening set. Team Linnehan trimmed the deficit to 47-40 by taking the middle frame with a 25-22 verdict as opposite Willow Johnson posted seven kills. Team Linnehan also claimed the third set, 26-24, but was unable to secure the match victory.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Linnehan’s sixth 300-point performance of the season moved her into the overall lead with a 72-point advantage over outside hitter Leah Edmond pending the results of Team Edmond’s match against Team Hentz on Monday night. Pressley’s effort elevated her standing by seven spots into 17th place with 1,738 leaderboard points.

MATCH NOTES

• Team Hilley and Team Linnehan combined to register six service aces in Monday’s opener, raising the league’s season total to 118 service aces through 23 matches … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every service ace this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Aces’ initiative.

• Setter Sydney Hilley and Linnehan met for the second time this season as opposing captains … Team Hilley earned a 75-53 victory over Team Linnehan in the first meeting during Week Two.

• Team Hilley becomes the ninth team in Athletes Unlimited Volleyball history to win a match despite losing two sets, including the third time this season … Team Nootsara was the first team this season with its 70-69 win over Team De La Cruz on October 8 before Team Edmond downed Team Hilley, 73-71, on October 27.

• The Purple jersey also ended a six-match losing streak with Team Hilley’s victory over Team Linnehan on Monday night … It was the first victory for the Purple jersey since October 15 when Team Hilley defeated Team Linnehan by a 75-53 count.

• Libero Nomaris Vélez Agosto finished with a match-high 14 digs, marking the 35th time she has registered 10 or more digs in 42 career matches, including the 11th time in 12 matches this season … Vélez Agosto also recorded a career-high seven assists in the setback.

• Libero Amanda Benson notched her 21st career double-digit dig performance, including her seventh this season, after tallying 12 digs in the win for Team Hilley.

• Setter Nootsara Tomkom now owns 14 double-double efforts in her Athletes Unlimited career, including her fifth this season, after compiling 35 assists with 11 digs for Team Linnehan.

• Linnehan, who authored her third double-double of the season, now has 10 or more kills in six consecutive matches after her match-high 16-kill output against Team Hilley … She is averaging 12.5 kills in her last six matches.

• Opposite Willow Johnson has reached double-digit kills in seven of her last eight outings, including the last four in a row … She has earned Match MVP honors in three of the four outings while averaging 13.3 kills over the four-match stretch.

• Outside hitter Erin Fairs posted her third consecutive match with 10 or more digs after collecting a season-high 12 digs against Team Hilley … It is the 13th time she has posted 10 or more digs in a match during her Athletes Unlimited career.

• Hilley posted her league-leading 10th match with 30 or more assists, while setter Nootsara Tomkom tallied her 17th career outing with 30 or more assists, which are tied for the second-most instances in league history.

MATCH MVPS

• #1 – Yossiana Pressley (Team Hentz, +60)
• #2 – Alli Linnehan (Team Linnehan, +40)
• #3 – Nicole Edelman-Cagliari (Team Hentz, +20)