Attack Finally Emerges For State #3 Women's Volleyball, Win Streak At 9

There have been small spurts, a scoring run in some sets, but the Pasadena City College women's volleyball team had yet to really show an efficient attack offense despite a successful start to the 2021 season. On Wednesday night, it all came together for the state #3-ranked Lancers as they hammered #24-ranked Cerritos College in a 25-12, 25-17, 25-9 sweep at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

The Lancers (12-1) extended their overall win streak to nine matches and remained perfect in South Coast Conference play at 7-0 thanks to a season-best .389 hitting percentage. All the more encouranging for the SoCal Region's current #1 squad is it performed the high efficiency against one of the better defensive teams in the region in the Falcons (8-5, 4-3). Cerritos managed to force PCC into several long rallies but it only delayed positive finishes as the Lancers hitters rarely missed a swing. 

Leading the way was outside hitter Nalani Young, who ripped 14 kills in 24 attempts with no errors (.583) while playing her usual high-level defensive game with a team-high 13 digs. Middle blocker Monet Latunde dominated the net as she crushed nine kills in 12 attempts (.750) while having one of her best blocking efforts of the season with seven blocks (two solos).

Opposite Camila Sanchez-Tellez also was flawless with six thundering kills in 13 attacks (.462) as was middle blocker Paulina Lopez with four kills in 10 swings (.400). Setter Annie Lay totaled 20 assists while fellow setter Nayeli SalasOrtiz added 12 helpers. 

In all, PCC made just seven attack errors and in a perfect third set, the Lancers landed 14 kills in 30 attempts (.467). Ironically, Cerritos was the first opponent this season to withstand PCC's tremendous state #1 serving game (3.17 aces per set). The Falcons serve receive, including Breanna Lizarraga (who had 15 digs), kept Pasadena ace-less in the opening set. It wasn't until the third set that Pasadena's serve broke through with four of what ended up being a team season-low six aces. 

In the third set, Saku Yoshioka opened the game by serving an 11-0 run by the Lancers, including two aces. Later, Leena Albelo spun two more aces. Between the perfect hitting and the hard serves, PCC made quick work of the Falcons with a 16-point final set triumph.

"It may have been our best match all year," said PCC head coach Mike Terrill. "Offensively, we had an extremely efficient performance. Nalani and Monet were outstanding and Annie really shined. Our assistant coaches put together a great game plan as the team stuck with it all night. It was a treat to watch them come together this evening and play to their potential."

Terrill is assisted this season by second-year coach Micheal Ledford and first-year assistant Sahara Martinez. 

PCC next hosts Compton College, a SCC school playing volleyball for the first time in its school's history, on Friday, Oct. 8 in a 6 p.m. first serve at the HP Gym.