Lancers Move Up Women's Volleyball Rankings To State #6, Sweep Chaffey

Things are clicking for the Pasadena City College women's volleyball team. The Lancers moved up three places to No. 6 on the CCCWVCA State Top 25 Rankings and they celebrated by routing host Chaffey, 25-15, 25-8, 25-16, in a non-conference match Wednesday night.

The Lancers won their third straight and improved to 6-1 overall while performing their highest team hitting percentage of the young season at .291. 

Middle blocker Monet Latunde led the way with 11 kills in just 14 attempts (hit .643) while utility setter Bia Silva contributed 10 kills (.421) with 17 assists, and four aces. Verenice Gonzalez came off the bench to score three kills, three aces, six digs and a block. Kimberly Cruz added two kills and Danae Johnson three kills and two aces.

"Bia and Monet were impressive offensively," said PCC head coach Mike Terrill. "Our defense is always anchored with our serving. Our team takes great pride in its ability to go on runs from the service line, and it gives us more and more confidence each match. It allows us to lock in and play at a higher level."

PCC will have what could be a potential South Coast Conference meeting of the 2021 contenders for the title when it plays at Mt. San Antonio College on Friday, Sept. 17. On a 5-match win streak, Mt. SAC is 6-2 overall and is ranked #10 in the state, one of the highest early-season ranking for the school in its volleyball history. 

Since the 1999 season, Pasadena holds a 25-19 edge in the head-to-head series v. the Mounties. While PCC won conference North Division titles in 2017 and 2018 and Mt. SAC a North crown in 2016, the conference returned to one overall conference in 2019.

This year, Compton was added for the first time to the SCC and nine teams now make up the league. El Camino College has won conference titles every season between 2010-2019, including the overall title in 2010-2015 and in '19. PCC was the last school other than El Camino to win an overall South Coast title in 2009.