CPHS Volleyball: Mutiri scores 22 kills in 3-1 loss at Union

The Charles Page High School varsity volleyball team (2-1) suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of a Frontier Valley Conference foe. The Union Redskins (2-0) avenged their last seasons's loss to remain undefeated in the new year.

Kills: Mutiri 22, Cypert 4, Campfield 2, Neely 1
Assists: Burris 11, MaKenzie Ward 7, Mong 2, Cypert 1, Campfield 1.
Aces: Campfield 2, Burris 2, Madison Ward 2, Taylor 1, MaKenzie Ward 1
Blocks solo: Neely 1, Mutiri 1.
Block Assists: Neely 1, Burris 1.
Digs: Taylor 11, Madison Ward 11, Mutiri 11, Burris 4, Campfield 4, MaKenzie Ward 1.

The Lady Sandites started out hot, working up a 6-3 lead in the first set before the Redskins surged ahead to 9-7. Chelsea Neely scored a kill and Cloe Campfield served an ace for a brief 10-9 lead, but the home team stuck with their foes and won four-straight rallies for a 17-13 advantage. Sand Springs took the penultimate lead at 20-19 after winning four straight rallies including an ace from MaKenzie Ward. Union reclaimed the lead for a single rally, but Sand Springs won four more in a row and wrapped things up at 25-22 with a set from MaKenzie Ward and a kill from Gloria Mutiri.

The second set was a constant battle. The game saw five tied scores and four lead changes, with the home team taking charge at 13-12 as the Sandites were caught out of rotation. Union took a seven-point lead late in the game, but Sand Springs battled back with four straight rally wins including an ace from Madison Burris. The Lady Sandites tried to get back in the game, but the Redskins hung on for a 25-20 victory to tie the match.

Union took a 3-0 lead in set three, Sand Springs won the next five rallies, then Union won the four after that to take the lead for the duration. Sand Springs pulled as close as 16-14 thanks to kills from Makenna Cypert and Mutiri with an ace from Madison Ward. Union rapidly pulled away from there, however, for a 25-16 win.

It was make or break for Sand Springs in the fourth set. Mutiri struck first with an assist from Raylynn Mong and quickly worked up a 4-1 lead, but the Redskins were on a roll and won the next six rallies. The lead changed twice more, but Union took the final lead at 12-11 and rapidly surged ahead for the 25-15 lead. 

Mutiri, an Ohio State University commit, led all scorers with 22 kills. Burris recorded eleven assists, followed by MaKenzie Ward with seven. Mutiri, Madison Ward, and Kyle Taylor each had eleven digs apiece. 

The Lady Sandites will return to Union on Friday for a tournament at the Union Multipurpose Activity Center (UMAC) at 6836 South Mingo Road in Tulsa.