El Camino Shocks State #8 Volleyball In South Coast Conference Opener

The Pasadena City College women's volleyball team went undefeated in South Coast Conference play in 2021, winning the title with a perfect 18-0 record. On Friday night, the state #8 Lancers figured to keep their streak going. But previously winless and host El Camino College had other plans.

The Warriors (1-7) won their first match of the season and stunned PCC (9-3), 25-14, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21, in stopping a 7-match win streak by the Lancers as well as the program's conference win string. Throwing in the COVID-19 pandemic that cancelled the 2020-21 season, you have to go back to 2019 for Pasadena's last conference defeat.

El Camino's record was a bit deceiving considering a monster non-conference schedule that saw the Warriors lose to seven teams ranked in the state Top 16. PCC beat four of those teams in MiraCosta, Cypress, Moorpark, and Canyons. 

ECC was led by a swingfest by Leafa Juarez, who powered 28 kills in a whopping 63 attempts. 

The Lancers were paced by Ashley Marrone with 12 kills (hit .320) and Emma Yogan, who had 12 kills (.290) and four aces. Ashley Gilbert added eight kills (.353) and three blocks while Bia Silva collected seven kills, 21 assists and 14 digs. Makayla Chiechi contributed 15 digs.

PCC may have taken ECC too lightly coming off an emotional 5-set win over Canyons on Wednesday. 

The Lancers next play at Long Beach City College on Friday, Sept. 23 in a 6 p.m. SCC match.