State #3 Women's Volleyball Serves Up Sweep Over El Camino

Every match, the state #3-ranked Pasadena City College women's volleyball team seems to have a different theme, a different strength, or a different standout. On Wednesday night, the Lancers rediscovered the power of its serve attack. It wore down visiting El Camino College as the match progressed and PCC walked away with a 25-23, 25-14, 25-17 sweep for its 13th straight victory. The contest was played before a large student-populated crowd at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

PCC improved to 16-1 overall and remain perfect in both South Coast Conference play at 11-0 and in home matches at 10-0. El Camino, a team that tops the "Best of the Rest" but not ranked in the State Top 25, dropped to 10-12 and 8-4 in conference.

For the first time in five matches, the Lancers reached double figures in aces with 11, including five from freshman libero Kei'ana Pascua, who added a team-high 10 digs. Another key server was sophomore defensive specialist Saku Yoshioka who spun three aces while frosh setter Bia Silva also landed three serves for points. 

The Lancers and Warriors were 11-11 on points following sideouts in the opening set, one where PCC hit just .069 and committed 12 unforced errors. But in the final two sets, Pasadena's serving produced 31 points following winning the sideout to just 12 off sideouts by ECC.

In the final set, Yoshioka served a 6-0 run, and both Pascua and letterman middle blocker Paulina Lopez served 4-0 runs. Each of the Lancers servers have unique spins, some use a jumping technique, and each put the ball over the net with different velocity and movement that has left a number of opponents' serve receive in disarray. 

"I'm not happy with how begun the first set, but we did enough to get the desired result," said PCC head coach Mike Terrill. "Against El Camino, we competed and executed at a much higher level over the final two sets. A key to winning was our service pressure. Kei'ana led the charge at the service line and defensively. Saku had a great serving night. I felt we had an improved blocking performance."

In the opening set, a 7-0 El Camino run erased a 21-15 PCC lead. Tied at 23-23, Silva and then frosh middle blocker Monet Latunde scored kills to close out the set. 

Overall, sophomore outside hitter Nalani Young tallied 12 kills and nine digs while Latunde was a net force with five kills and six blocks (two solos). Frosh opposite Camila Sanchez-Tellez delivered eight kills and four blocks while Sabiya Esquivel scored six kills.

El Camino's top player was libero Saki Yamamoto with a match-high 17 digs. 

On Friday, Oct. 29, the Lancers travel to face Los Angeles Harbor College in a 6 p.m. conference match. Fans can watch it on volleyball's Facebook Live at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/PasadenaCCVolleyball/