Recap: Team Kingdon Rishel Sweeps Team De La Cruz-Mejía En Route to 77-66 Victory

Kingdon Rishel made sure her debut as a captain was one to remember. The former Arizona standout erupted for a league season-high 21 kills while adding eight digs and a solo block en route to MVP 1 honors and a season-high 414 leaderboard points.

Libero Mary Lake (317 leaderboard points) earned the first Match MVP award of the season after garnering MVP 2 status with 11 digs, while outside hitter Brooke Nuneviller received MVP 3 plaudits and 363 points after a double-double performance of 13 kills and 18 digs.

Setter Sydney Hilley dished out 45 assists with four digs and a pair of solo blocks in the victory.

Opposite Khat Bell put down 14 kills and 10 digs for her first career double-double in the loss for Team De La Cruz-Mejía, while De La Cruz-Mejía chipped in a double-double of her own with 12 kills and 10 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Kingdon Rishel put down 10 kills in the opening frame as her squad battled to an early 27-25 match advantage. Team Kingdon Rishel extended its match lead to 52-48 after the second set before completing the sweep by a 25-18 count in the final set.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Kingdon Rishel made some ground in the standings and remains in third place with 3,068 points, while opposite Willow Johnson jumped into fourth place with 2,649 points.

MATCH NOTES

• Kingdon Rishel and De La Cruz-Mejía faced each other as opposing captains for the first time in their Athletes Unlimited Pro Volleyball careers.

• The contest was the 34th win point sweep in AU Pro Volleyball history, including the eighth sweep this season … It is also just the second time De La Cruz-Mejía has captained a team on the losing end of a sweep … The previous instance occurred on March 22, 2021, against Team Larson.

• Kingdon Rishel begins her captain’s career with a 1-0 record, while De La Cruz-Mejía falls to 29-14 as a team leader … This is De La Cruz-Mejía’s first loss to a captain other than opposite Brittany Abercrombie this season.

• Kingdon has compiled 10 or more kills in 12-of-13 matches this season, including the last six fixtures in a row.

• Nuneviller amassed 15 or more digs for the third time this season … It also marked the ninth time she finished with double-digit digs this season … She also registered her seventh double-double of the season, good for second in the circuit.

• Hilley dished out 40 or more assists for the third time this season, which matches Natalia Valentin-Anderson for the league lead.

• De La Cruz-Mejía tallied the 14th double-double of her AU Pro Volleyball career, including her fourth this season … She has finished with 10 or more kills in a league-record 48 career outings, including 11-of-13 matches this year.

• Setter Alisha Childress crossed 30 assists for the 23rd time in her AU Pro Volleyball career, including the sixth time this season.

• Libero Manami Kojima reached 15 digs for the fifth time this season, which is tied for the sixth-highest total in league history.

• Lake snapped a 10-match losing streak, earning her first match victory since October 6 against Team Hentz

• Outside hitter Leketor Member-Meneh is just 1-7 in her last eight contests after beginning the season at 5-0.

• Johnson has won each of her last five matches after a 3-5 start to the season.

MATCH MVPS

• #1 – Madi Kingdon Rishel (Team Kingdon Rishel, +60)
• #2 – Mary Lake (Team Kingdon Rishel, +40)
• #3 – Brooke Nuneviller (Team Kingdon Rishel, +20)