SURPRISE, Ariz –- The Soka University men's volleyball team continued GSAC play with a road stretch in Arizona facing Ottawa University Arizona on Friday, March 13 and Arizona Christian University on Saturday, March 14. The Lions are now 1-9 overall and 0-5 in GSAC play.
Ottawa Arizona 3, Soka 1
Soka opened the weekend with a competitive four-set battle against Ottawa Arizona before falling 25–15, 25–19, 20–25, 25–18.
After dropping the first two sets, the Lions responded with their strongest stretch of the match in the third set. Soka tightened its defense and found offensive rhythm, earning a 25–20 win to extend the match. The Lions remained competitive in the fourth set but Ottawa Arizona closed the match to secure the victory.
Offensively,
Corban Tidwell led Soka with 10 kills, while
Isaac Jeremia and
Kamohoalii Chan each contributed seven kills.
Christian Obergfell added six kills, helping the Lions produce 34 team kills.
Jeremia also made an impact from the service line with two aces, while Tidwell, Chan, and
Jacob Marquez each added one.
At the net, Soka totaled 10 blocks, including four solo blocks and six block assists. Jeremia recorded two block assists and one solo block, while Obergfell added one solo block and two block assists. Marquez contributed two solo blocks and one assist, and Chan chipped in with one block assist.
Defensively, Jeremia led the back row with 10 digs, followed by Obergfell with nine and Tidwell with six. Marquez directed the offense with 23 assists in the match.
Arizona Christian 3, Soka 0
The Lions returned to the court the next day to face Arizona Christian, falling in straight sets 25–15, 25–12, 25–13.
Soka battled through long rallies throughout the match and showed defensive effort, collecting 29 digs as a team.
Yuko Jitoho, Chan, and Marquez each recorded five digs to lead the Lions' defensive effort.
Chan paced the offense with five kills, while Jeremia added four. Tidwell, Marquez, and
Andres Chavez each recorded three kills.
Soka also contributed five total blocks, including one solo block and four block assists. Obergfell led the effort with one solo block and one block assist, while Jeremia, Chan, and Chavez each added one block assist.
Marquez once again led the Lions' offense, finishing with 14 assists.
