Top North Teams Hand #9 Women's Volleyball Tough Setbacks

The Pasadena City College women's volleyball team knew it would be a tough two days at the highly-competitive NorCal v.SoCal Showcase Aug. 30-31. And after losing to four fellow State Top 10 teams, all from the North region, the Lancers learned they have to raise their game if they should meet some of them again in the postseason.

The Fresno City College-hosted event saw PCC (3-4 record) with some big moments in individual sets throughout the tourney, but also went through rocky patches especially on the second day. 

In the opener on Friday, Pasadena played well in a 4-set loss to the host #7 Rams, 25-19, 22-25, 25-23, 26-24, and only lost in points by a 107-99 margin. Biko Hollie was outstanding with 13 kills, 12 digs, and five blocks (three solos) while Chayse Hoon added 11 kills and two blocks. Marina Segura served five aces and Savannah Curtis slammed seven kills and seven blocks (two solos). The duo of Shaylee Ungos (21 set assists, 10 digs and four kills) and Kamea Vongfak (15 digs, 11 set assists and two aces) each recorded double-doubles.

Fresno wore down PCC with a solid offensive attack led by a trio of hitters in Reese Cuttone with 14 kills (hit .522), Ashlan VanGronigen with 13 kills. and Malia Edwardson, who added 12 kills (.346). The loss ended PCC's mini, 3-match win streak. Pasadena nearly pushed FCC to a fifth set but lost the fourth in extra points. 

PCC then went up v. #4 San Joaquin Delta and played three tightly-contested sets but were swept by the Mustangs, 25-22, 25-22, 27-25. As well as the Lancers hit (.275 as a team), Delta was off-the-charts efficient, hitting .411 while making few errors. The Lancers were hurt by nine service errors and two ball-handling mistakes.

Overall, Hollie (13 kills) and Hoon (12 kills) each hit .321, Emily Licon made 19 digs and tossed four aces, Curtis tallied eight kills and four blocks, and Ungos had 21 assists, 11 digs and four kills. Naila Ia nailed 13 kills to pace Delta.

Again, Pasadena was only a few points from a different outcome, losing just 77-69.  Pasadena had Delta at set point twice in the third set on kills by Hoon (24-23) and Curtis (25-24), but couldn't hold on. PCC also led 16-12 in the opening set before falling.

On day 2 of the tourney, the Lancers first faced #5 Feather River, last year's state runner-up, and lost in a sea of mistakes, 25-14, 28-26, 25-12, including allowing the Golden Eagles to land 12 aces while PCC was erratic on 24 attacks errors and nine service mistakes (just two aces).

In the second game, down 23-15, Pasadena rallied to send it to extras at 24-24 on a combined block by Brianna Galvan and Hoon. The team fought off two more set points, including a Hoon block at 26-26, but Feather River scored two straight points to win it. 

Galvan contributed five kills in just nine swings and three blocks while Segura, playing libero for this match, made eight digs. 

Against #3 Sierra, the Lancers had a momentum swing go the wrong way as the Wolverines scored a sweep, 26-24, 25-16, 25-21. PCC again might have been on its way to a different result, but failed again to hold a big lead. Pasadena led for most of the opening set, building leads of 5-1, 10-4, and then 22-16. Despite being two points away from set point at 23-20, Sierra responded with four straight points and finished with a 10-2 run to take the game.

The Wolverines controlled each of the last two sets, but even in the third set, the Lancers showed no quit despite being down 20-10. PCC went on a sprited 10-2 run capped by a Hollie kill to cut it to 22-20 but Sierra was able to complete the sweep in a 4-point triumph. Hollie scored 11 kills, Hoon eight kills, Curtis four kills and six blocks, Vongfak dished out 22 assists, and Licon made 16 digs. 

"We know we have things to work on, but in each of the four matches we forced extra points in a set only to lose," said PCC head coach Mike Terrill. "I don't think we were far off when you consider how close so many of the sets were. We were tired on the second day and I think that caught up a bit to our starters. We learned how good the North teams really are, but I think we showed competitive fire. We also know we have to finish off sets when we have those opportunities to do so."

Hollie was named to the All-NorCal v. SoCal Showcase Tournament team.