Danielle Hart and Sydney Hilley block at the net

Recap: Team Edmond breaks single-match blocks record, sweeps win points

Eric Rhew

Oct 08, 2023

MESA, Arizona — After squeaking out a four-point victory in its opener on Friday night, Team Edmond wanted to make sure it could breathe a little easier in its Athletes Unlimited Volleyball tilt against Team Valentin-Anderson on Sunday afternoon. So, they decided to throw a record-setting block party.

Guided by five blocks each from setter Sydney Hilley and middle blocker Danielle Hart, Team Edmond registered a league-record 18 rejections en route to handing Team Valentin-Anderson a 75-58 setback in the first match of Sunday’s twinbill at Legacy Park.

The win allowed Team Edmond to move its record to 2-0, while Team Valentin-Anderson suffered its second straight setback during the season’s opening week.

Team captain Leah Edmond used a double-double performance to secure MVP 1 honors and 390 leaderboard points. The former Kentucky Wildcat tallied 17 kills with a .275 hitting percentage while adding 11 digs in the victory.

Hilley followed with her first career Game MVP honor, receiving MVP 2 notice after notching 37 assists with five blocks and two kills. Hilley, a former Wisconsin star, also collected her first career 300-point effort after securing 326 points in the victory.

Hart joined Hilley as the leaders of Team Edmond’s block party, accumulating five rejections along with eight kills and six digs en route to MVP 3 recognition and 322 leaderboard points.

Opposite Saskia Hippe paced Team Valentin-Anderson with her first career Athletes Unlimited double-double after tallying 14 kills and 11 digs. Team captain Natalia Valentin-Anderson recorded her second double-double in as many matches with 27 assists and a match-high 16 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Edmond belted eight of her kills in the opening set as Team Edmond held off a late run to claim a 25-20 verdict. Team Edmond extended its advantage to 50-39 by claiming the second set on the strength of seven blocks along with four kills from Edmond and outside hitter Alli Linnehan. In the third set, Team Edmond used six blocks and five more kills from its captain for a 25-19 verdict and clean sweep.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Edmond’s performance lifted her eight spots on the leaderboard into second place with 628 points, while Hilley rose four positions into third place. Hart used her MVP 3 performance to elevate her standing by 10 places, moving her into fourth place with 552 points.

MATCH NOTES

Team Edmond and Team Valentin-Anderson combined to record one service ace in Sunday afternoon’s opener, upping the league’s season total to 14 aces through three matches … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every service ace this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Aces’ initiative.
Team Edmond authored the 18th win points sweep in Athletes Unlimited Volleyball history, including the second sweep this season.
Team Edmond closed the match with 18 blocks, setting a new Athletes Unlimited Volleyball single-match record … Team De La Cruz held the previous mark with 14 rejections against Team Larson on March 29, 2021.
Edmond registered her 19th career double-digit kill performance in her three-year Athletes Unlimited career … In addition, she tallied 15 or more kills for the seventh time in her 32 career appearances.
Edmond also authored her sixth career double-double in Athletes Unlimited play after finishing with 11 digs … It marked the seventh time she has accrued 10 or more digs in an Athletes Unlimited match.
With 390 leaderboard points, Edmond registered 300 or more leaderboard points in a match for the fifth time in her Athletes Unlimited career.
Hilley’s five blocks are the most by a setter in Athletes Unlimited Volleyball history … Brie King held the previous honor with four blocks against Team Lowe on March 8, 2021.
Hart and Hilley become the 48th and 49th different players in Athletes Unlimited Volleyball history to earn a Game MVP commendation.
Valentin-Anderson posted her 13th career Athletes Unlimited double-double in Sunday’s setback … She also reached the 15-dig mark for the seventh time in her Athletes Unlimited career.
Libero Morgan Hentz amassed double-digit digs for the 16th time in 17 career Athletes Unlimited matches after finishing with 13 digs in the victory for Team Edmond.