State #9-Ranked Volleyball Turns Tables on Citrus

For nearly two sets, it was hard to tell which team was rated #9 in the opening CCCWVCA State Women's Volleyball Top 25 Rankings and who was unranked. The #9 team, of course, was Pasadena City College, and after a lethargic stretch that resulted in a 27-25 first-set defeat to visiting Citrus and a 17-12 second-set deficit, the Lancers turned to one of their leaders to change the momentum. 

Nalani Young, the team's returning All-South Coast Conference First Team outside hitter from 2019, sparked PCC as it rollled to a 4-set victory, 25-27, 25-22, 25-16, 25-14, Wednesday night at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. The Lancers improved to 4-1 overall and are a perfect 4-0 on their home floor. Citrus is 1-3.

In that second set, Young landed a finesse kill for sideout and then proceeded to serve PCC on a 6-0 run, including three kills by Camila Sanchez-Tellez, for the lead at 18-17. The set remained in doubt at 22-22, but Young scored two more kills, one for set point and 1-1 tie in the match. From that point on, the Lancers looked more and more like a team that will likely challenge for a SCC title and a potential high seed in the postseason. 

In the third set, another returner from the '19 team, defensive specialist/libero Saku Yoshioka spun three successive aces for a 16-10 lead. Young ripped another kill to make it 19-15 and then used her tough serve for a 5-0 scoring run. A Sabiya Esquivel kill closed out that set and a 2-1 Lancers lead.

In the fourth game, Young went on a second, 5-0 serving run that included two aces for a 6-2 PCC lead. Up 11-9, Young went to work as a hitter and put down three more attack kills to cap a 6-0 run. Middle blocker Monet Latunde finished off Citrus by firing match point.

Young closed with 19.5 points as she totaled 14 kills, nine digs and five aces. Sanchez-Tellez added 14 kills while Esquivel made 11 kills. Starting setter Nayeli SalasOrtiz dished out 31 assists while reserve setter Annie Lay had 11 helpers. Yoshioka contributed 10 digs and four aces while libero Kei'ana Pascua had a match-high 12 digs. Latunde made five kills and a solo block and fellow middle blocker Danae Johnson had two kills and three blocks. Citrus had a big match from Delaney Tate, who scored 21 kills.

Young is coming off a brilliant 19-kill, 25-dig performance in the team's 5-set loss, 25-21, 14-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-9, at #4-ranked Moorpark on September 3.

"Nalani has really bounced back in the last couple of matches," said PCC head coach Mike Terrill. "It's great to see her hitting her stride and playing with so much heart. Against Moorpark, she led the charge defensively and v. Citrus she shined on offense."

On the team, Terrill expounded, "I really believe in the women on our team and they are a fun group to coach. We've shown we can be successful with different lineups, and we've been able to respond to challenges in most of our matches. Our lesson still to learn is we have yet to play 'PCC Volleyball' for an entire match start to finish. But once we commit to doing so our potential will be limitless."

In the Moorpark match, Esquivel scored 15 kills and 13 digs, SalasOrtiz 40 assists, 18 digs and three kills, Sanchez-Tellez 13 kills, and Lillian Sharman five kills. PCC shot itself in the foot with unforced errors, including 42 on attacks. 

On Friday, Sept. 10, the Lancers open conference play with a 6 p.m. match v. East Los Angeles College. First serve is 6 p.m. at the HP Gym. All Lancers matches can be seen via live stream at https://www.facebook.com/PasadenaCCVolleyball/