After splitting a couple of road conference matches, the Mt. SAC women’s volleyball team returned home and dropped a tough five-set decision 3-2 to the visiting Pasadena City College Lancers (31-29, 14-25, 13-25, 25-20, 8-15) Wednesday night. This was the first time that both teams went the distance in a match.
“Its great that we came out on top because we haven’t been challenged in a couple of weeks,” Lancers head coach Tammy Silva said. “Mt. SAC came out swinging and never gave up, so I think this was a great match for both teams.”
A Mt. SAC hitting error put Pasadena on the board, after which they went on a 6-2 run before back-to-back Lenavera Gibson kills and a Cassandra Mahina drop shot tied the score at 7-7. Tied 11-11, PCC would pull away, but Mt. SAC would stay close until a Frances Rodriguez drop shot and a Jennifer Silva kill would even the score at 22-22. There would be six ties on set point until another Rodriguez drop shot and a PCC hitting error finally closed out the first set at 31-29.
Mahina finished with 12 kills and three blocks. Silva added 11 kills, five blocks and six digs. Gibson finished with four kills, seven digs, two blocks and an ace.
Silva said that for her it is all mental. “After I make a mistake I have to keep telling myself ‘give me the ball again. Set me again, and I will kill it this time.’ It’s all mental for me and I have to keep myself focused on what I am doing.”
Pasadena (9-1 overall, 3-0 South Coast Conference) would come back and win the next two sets. In the second set Mt. SAC kept it close for the first couple of rallies, but then PCC pulled away with a 13-7 run to win the second set 25-14. Pasadena continued in the third set where they left off, as their hitters got hot. Both Patti Blasco and Jessica Foley tallied six kills each en route to an easy 25-13 win in the third set.
“I always try to think to myself that our defense works very very hard and our setter works very hard, so it is my job to put the ball away. No matter what, I have to put the ball away,” Blasco said.
Blasco finished with 15 kills, 12 digs, five blocks and three aces. Foley added six kills and five blocks. Jessica Xu dished out 21 assists, in addition to three kills and two digs.
Mt. SAC took the early lead in the fourth set and held on to win the set 25-20.
Pasadena made a push to close the score to 24-20, but a Silva kill and a Pasadena service error ensured Mt. SAC the fourth set victory.
Pasadena took a 4-1 lead in the decisive fifth set, although Mt. SAC didn’t go away easily, as back-to-back kills closed out the set and match for the Lancers 15-8.
“We lost, but we lost in five games which is an improvement,” sophomore Nicole Ford said. “I think we need to work (on it) more, but overall I think we did pretty well. We’re improving on our passing and our defense and everything. I’m proud of my team because we fought, fought to the end and never gave up.”
Mt. SAC (5-3, 1-2 South Coast Conference) hopes to bounce back next Wednesday as they host Los Angeles City College. Match time is 6:30 p.m.
-Henry Montemayor
Staff Writer
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