Recap: Team Edmond holds on to defeat Team Nuneviller, 61-60

Setter Natalia Valentin-Anderson, the match’s MVP 1 selection, collected 305 leaderboard points after recording a double-double with 31 assists and a team-high 14 digs.

Outside hitter Leah Edmond followed with her league-leading eighth Match MVP honor of the campaign, receiving MVP 2 distinction on the strength of 14 kills and five digs.

Outside hitter Lindsey Vander Weide completed the MVP awards for Team Edmond after securing 12 kills to earn MVP 3 notice and 249 leaderboard points.

Team Nuneviller was led by captain Brooke Nuneviller’s 12 kills and 12 digs, while setter Sydney Hilley added 33 assists with six digs and four kills. Outside hitter Bethania De La Cruz chipped in 10 kills in the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Team Edmond secured a 25-17 victory in the opening set before extending the margin to 50-35 by winning the middle frame with a 25-18 verdict. Team Nuneviller avoided a match sweep by salvaging the final set with a 25-11 triumph.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Edmond retained the league’s overall lead for the seventh consecutive match day after her 251-point performance. She will enter the penultimate match day of the season with a 123-point advantage over outside hitter Alli Linnehan, while Nuneviller remains in fourth place with 2,825 points.

MATCH NOTES

• Team Edmond and Team Nuneviller combined to register six service aces in the second match of Friday’s doubleheader, elevating the league’s season total to 134 aces through 26 matches … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every ace this season as part of its ‘Aspiration Aces’ initiative.

• Team Nuneviller facilitator Dave Rubio missed Friday night’s match due to his induction into the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame … Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Director of Sport Cassidy Lichtman served as the team’s facilitator in Rubio’s place.

• Friday night’s second match between Team Edmond and Team Nuneviller marked the fourth match in Athletes Unlimited Volleyball history to be decided by a single point, including the second time this season … Team Nootsara edged Team De La Cruz by a 70-69 count on October 8.

• Friday’s match between Team Edmond and Team Nuneviller also marked the sixth contest this season decided by three points or less.

• Libero Kendall White has 10 or more digs in 10-of-13 matches this season after securing 13 digs in the win for Team Edmond.

• Edmond owns 18 consecutive matches with 10 or more kills after leading Team Edmond with 14 kills on Friday night … She is the only player in the league with 10 or more kills in all 13 matches this season.

• Nuneviller, who notched her fourth double-double of the season, has 10 or more digs in six matches this season after collecting a team-high 12 digs in the loss for Team Nuneviller … She also has six consecutive outings with 10 or more kills.

• Hilley posted her 11th match with 30 or more assists this season, including the last five in a row.

• Valentin-Anderson authored her 23rd career match with 30 or more assists, which is a league record … She also earned her league-record 17th career double-double.

• Vander Weide has 10 or more kills in four of her last five matches, averaging 10.8 kills over that span.

• De La Cruz, meanwhile, has a streak of 21 consecutive matches with 10 or more kills dating back to last season.

MATCH MVPS

• #1 – Natalia Valentin-Anderson (Team Edmond, +60)
• #2 – Leah Edmond (Team Edmond, +40)
• #3 – Lindsey Vander Weide (Team Edmond, +20)