Firestorm Rally Past OUAZ, Improve to 4-3 in Inaugural Season
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Christian University Men’s Beach Volleyball continued to make strides in its inaugural season, earning a hard-fought 3-2 victory over OUAZ Club to improve to 4-3 on the year. The Firestorm showcased their growth and composure in a dual that came down to the final flight, with Felipe Torres and Aydan Pimental delivering the decisive performance.
ACU opened the dual with a setback at the fourth flight, falling in straight sets to give OUAZ an early 1-0 lead. The Firestorm responded at the second flight, where Kellen McHale and Brayden Case battled through three sets to even the team score. After taking the opening set 21-19, the pair dropped the second before regrouping to claim the deciding set 15-10.
The fifth flight featured another close contest. ACU’s Asher Taton and Ridge McGovern claimed the first set 21-15 but couldn’t finish the match, falling 21-18 in the second set and 15-13 in the third. The result put OUAZ ahead 2-1, leaving the Firestorm needing wins in both remaining flights to secure the dual.
Tobias Eriksson and Asher Ganem answered the challenge at the third flight with a convincing straight-set victory. The pair took both sets, 21-13 and 21-12, bringing ACU level with OUAZ at 2-2 and setting the stage for a winner-take-all finish.
With the dual on the line, Torres and Pimental delivered under pressure at the first flight. Facing late deficits in both sets, the pair maintained their composure and executed when it mattered most, rallying to win both sets by identical 22-20 scores and clinching the 3-2 victory for the Firestorm.
The win reflected the continued progress of ACU’s first-year program. Eriksson and Ganem produced a standout performance at the third flight, McHale and Case showed resilience in their three-set victory, and Torres and Pimental came through in the decisive match with a clutch finish.
“I’m proud of this team’s growth, which has shown through in the form of calm under pressure and has helped us tremendously in close matches,” head coach Ryan Wrublik said.
ACU now turns its attention to the final competition of its inaugural season, traveling to Dania Shores, Florida, for the Barry University Tournament on Oct. 23-24. The Firestorm are scheduled to face Barry University and Erskine College on Friday before taking on Wingate University and Webber International University on Saturday.
With a winning record at 4-3, ACU will look to close its first season on a strong note and continue building on the progress shown throughout the fall.
