Sports in the News

Fifth-Rated Women's Volleyball Rocks No. 1, Defending State Champ Orange Coast In 3

The state's No. 5-ranked Pasadena City College women's volleyball team established itself as a serious contender for this year's CCCAA title Friday night. The Lancers rallied in all three games to hand No. 1-ranked and defending state champion Orange Coast College its first loss of the young season, 25-17, 27-25, 25-22, at Costa Mesa.

The Lancers improved to 6-1, while OCC dropped to 3-1. PCC used its strength of creating offense all over the court to frustrate the Pirates. The sweep exacted some revenge for a four-game loss by PCC to Orange Coast two seasons ago, in the first round of the 2008 playoffs.

Frosh outside hitter Ella Moe led the Lancers with 11 kills, transfer OH Markisha Richie added 10 kills, sophomore Danielle Stewart contributed seven from the setter position, and transfer middle blocker Kirsten Taylor delivered seven attack points.

Stewart tallied 33 set assists and a season-high five aces to go with nine digs, and middle blocker Miranda Doing added five blocks.  Pasadena hit .369 in the match.
 
Maddie Baird led the Pirates with 10 kills. Aimee Melone added eight kills and a team-best 10 digs, while setter Kimya Jafroudi dished out 23 assists.
 
Midway through Game 1, OCC led 14-12 before the Lancers came alive and closed out the game with a 13-3 run, capped off by a pair of kills by Richie and Moe.
 
The second game had a playoff-type feel to it as Pasadena jumped out to a 9-4 lead, only to watch the Pirates use a 9-1 run to lead 13-10. Both teams battled back and forth before the Lancers broke a 20-20 tie with three straight points, led by a Stewart kill, a Moe ace and a block from Taylor and Stewart.
 
Down 24-22, OCC used a pair of hitting errors by PCC to tie the match, but could never take the lead as Pasadena continued the pressure and took the key set.
 
The Pirates looked like they were going to run away with Game 3, jumping out to an 11-2 advantage, but the veteran Lancers roared back courtesy of a 16-4 run. PCC grabbed an 18-15 lead and sailed to the sweep.

 "Danielle was aggressive, set an amazing match, and was an offensive threat for us with her dump plays and her serving," said PCC Head Coach Tammy Silva. "Jessica Vargas played libero for us after a hard week of practice, earning the start v. OCC. Markisha and Ella were great with Ella playing well all the way around."

Vargas, a freshman from California High in Whittier, contributed 17 digs.

Pasadena next plays at the LA Pierce College Tournament Sept. 24-25 in Woodland Hills.

[Photo--Ella Moe powers an attack over the net with teammates Danielle Stewart (15) and Kirsten Taylor (4) looking on during PCC's three-game sweep at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa Friday night, image by Richard Quinton.]

Release Date: 09/18/10
Robert Lewis, Sports Information
Phone: 626-585-7018, Email: rmlewis@pasadena.edu

Revised February 8, 2013 by rmlewis@pasadena.edu