Yavapai at Arizona Western volleyball preview

Yavapai at (17) Arizona Western

Time: 7 p.m., the House

Last game: The Matadors lost to Central Arizona 21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-16, 19-17; the Roughriders swept South Mountain 25-21, 25-17, 25-14

Records: AWC (2-1 overall, 2-1 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); Yavapai (5-0 overall, 1-0 ACCAC)

Players to watch: In a five-game thriller that the Matadors won at Yavapai last year, Paula Rosa led Arizona Western with 20 kills. Considering the Matadors' recent history of close matches with the Roughriders, Rosa's experience as a sophomore could be important. ... The Roughriders are led by sophomore outside hitter Lauren Bevan, who was named to the All-ACCAC Honorable Mention a year ago. In Yavapai's sweep of South Mountain, Bevon led the team with 10 kills.

The lowdown: The Matadors and the Roughriders have had a history of playing down to the wire lately. Of the last eleven meetings between the two teams, nine matches have gone to a deciding fifth game. In the three meetings last year, the road team won every match — including Yavapai's 25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 25-22 win at Arizona Western. The Roughriders are off to a hot start and if recent history is any indication, expect the two teams to have another close match.

—Jesse Severson