TUN Bests TUC During ‘Golden Spike’ Volleyball Game
The 91制片厂 Matadors defeated the Touro University California Bulls in dominating fashion during the 鈥淕olden Spike鈥� volleyball game at Valley High School on Nov. 13.
The Matadors, who lost last year鈥檚 match in Vallejo, Calif. in five sets, swept the Bulls to win this year鈥檚 match. Fourth-year DO student Ryan Kedzie and second-year PA student Chelsea Phillips led the way for TUN with phenomenal serves and killer spikes from everyone.
Kedzie, who completed his undergraduate studies at The University of Illinois, has been playing volleyball since junior high school. He remembered how it felt after losing last year鈥檚 game in California, so bringing the Golden Spike back to Southern Nevada was rewarding.
鈥淏eing surrounded by your classmates on your home floor makes it a lot of fun,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t feels good to have the Golden Spike back with us. I鈥檓 really grateful for all of the fans who came out to support us. It鈥檚 definitely a much different vibe playing in front of them, and feeding off of their energy helped us play better.鈥�
The Matadors won each set by at least five points and worked cohesively as a team to bring the Golden Spike back to Southern Nevada.
鈥淲e just had great team chemistry and worked really well together, especially since we only practiced for less than two weeks,鈥� said Phillips, who played on her college volleyball teams during her undergraduate years. 鈥淪ince TUN lost in five games last year, we really wanted to win this year. I鈥檓 happy we didn鈥檛 lose games and were able to get the job done.鈥�
Coach Dr. Robert Askey, Director of the School of Education, said he felt TUN had an advantage because the team carried a healthy mix of veteran players as well as first-year players.
鈥淚t was nice to have those experienced players because we didn鈥檛 have a lot of time to practice together as a team,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose returning players had an idea for the style that we wanted to play, and we essentially used the same formula that we used last year.鈥�
Askey also credited the TUN crowd for energizing the team from the moment the match began.
鈥淐alifornia has a really great environment to play in, which is great for them,鈥� he said of last year鈥檚 match. 鈥淏ut our crowd was phenomenal. For our players, it was great that they had supporters from their own programs cheering them on. You could clearly hear everyone rooting for us, and I know that meant a lot to our players.鈥�
