State #6 Women's Volleyball Edges #10 Mt. SAC In 5

Call it hype of a matchup between top-ranked teams. Call it sheer excitement from facing a long-time school rival. Call it what you want, but the state's #6-ranked Pasadena City College women's volleyball team appeared like battle-tested heroes in rallying from a 2-1 sets deficit to beat host Mt. San Antonio College, 25-16, 18-25, 20-25, 25-13, 15-12, in a South Coast Conference match Friday night.

The Lancers (7-1, 2-0 in the SCC) twice lost their way against the Mounties (6-3, 1-1). After losing sets 2 and 3, PCC dominated the fourth set for a 12-point win to force a fifth and deciding game. Pasadena went up 8-5, but then were in trouble again down 11-9. PCC kept its composure and a Mt. SAC error produced match point and the team's fourth straight victory.

Since 1999, PCC has more 5-set matches v. Mt. SAC than any other opponent, winning for the eighth time in 12 such affairs. 

Once again, the serve was a vital factor for the Lancers, who recorded 10 aces, three each by libero Kei'ana Pascua and defensive specialist Saku Yoshioka. The Lancers lead the state in team aces per set at 3.19.

Meanwhile, Mt. SAC made just two aces and made 10 service errors, valuable points in a match that PCC outscored the opponent just 103-91. 

Pascua, a freshman, had perhaps her best match thus far with 26 digs while sophomore outside hitter Nalani Young added 22 digs, two aces and a team-high 11 kills. 

"This was a very exciting match. Neither team really clicked on all cylinders offensively, but I think that's because the intensity on the defensive side of the ball was outstanding for both teams," said PCC head coach Mike Terrill. "Kei'ana and Nala held it down for us in the back row, and Danae Johnson (five block kills) had an exceptional blocking match."

Terrill singled out the play of outside hitter Verenice Gonzalez, who came off the bench to deliver seven kills and two block assists.

"The offensive star of the match was Vere. She played with extreme confidence and she does such a good job of getting herself in rhythm, taking big swings in big moments. She hit a team-best .333."

Middle blocker Monet Latunde added six kills, Yoshioka 12 digs, and the setting duo of Annie Lay (20 assists) and Nayeli SalasOrtiz (18 assists) had big moments.

"Mo was really strong early," Terrill said. "Annie and Nayeli made good choices late in the match to find hot hitters, and Paulina Lopez gave us a real spark in the last two sets. The team is proud of itself and the players deserve to be. They're starting to realize that our confidence comes from the work we put in at practice, and it directly correlates into our success in matches."

The schedule doesn't get any easier next week when PCC hosts #14 Long Beach City College (5-3, 3-0) in a 6 p.m. SCC match on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium (no fans allowed at this time).

Nayeli SalasOrtiz with the diving dig

The team celebrates the win with fans who were allowed to attend the Mt. SAC-hosted match