Jolly Hollie Lancers As #19 Women's Volleyball Opens SCC North Play

The Pasadena City College women's volleyball team is starting to regain the form that made it a state top 10 squad early in the season as the #19 Lancers swept visiting East Los Angeles, 25-7, 25-20, 25-19, in their South Coast Conference North Division opener on Friday night.

PCC (8-9 overall) has seen its fortunes turn of late because of the inspired overall play of sophomore transfer outside hitter Biko Hollie. The 5-foot-11 Venice High product, blasted eight kills in the opening set alone and went on to score a season-high 19 kills (hit .362) with seven digs, an ace and a solo block. To go with her explosive offense, Hollie is the team's most consisent defender.

"Biko has been an outstanding leader and showed again tonight with her play and her voice how much she wants success for this team," said PCC head coach Mike Terrill. 

Hollie powered four kills in an 8-0 serving run by Elena Uribe that started the fun at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. The freshman Uribe has been another key contributor with an outstanding performance in a rare start. She posted nine kills and 10 digs with a strong serve and serve receive.

Letterman setter/opposite Shaylee Ungos played exclusively as setter v. ELAC and it resulted in her season-high of 35 assists plus three aces. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Brianna Galvan added five kills and frosh MB Maggie Hunter tallied four kills and five digs in her first start.

Defensive specialist Marina Segura delivered 10 digs and three aces while libero Juyeon Lee chipped in 15 digs and two aces. The PCC bench produced as well with two kills each by Emma Santa Ana (and two blocks), Machijah Harville and Mahrie Bedjakian. Daniela Millot made four digs.

Savannah Curtis scored two blocks in her one set. Curtis, a usual starter, is gradually being worked back into the lineup after an injury sidelined her in a few matches. 

PCC hit .256 as a team after hitting .277 in Wednesday's win over Compton. The Lancers had gone 10 previous matches without hitting about .165, a stretch in which the team won just three contests. 

"Our goal is to win the North Division this year," Terrill said. "We've won three straight and nine sets in a row. We're trending in the right direction. If we retain a laser focus on our energy and discipline, this group will achieve anything we put our minds to accomplishing." 

Hollie leads the entire SCC in overall kills (197, third also in kills per set at 3.4), third in digs (167), and #1 in points scored with 219.

Next Wednesday, Oct. 9, PCC will be tested on the road  v. state #11 Mt. San Antonio. First serve v. the Mounties is 6 p.m. and all matches can be viewed on PCC's Facebook Live at VIDEO STREAM