Sports in the News

Volleyball's To'omalatai Puts On Serving Clinic In Sweep Over ELAC

Nora To'omalatai isn't just the Pasadena City College women's volleyball team's top freshman. The 5-foot-8, outside hitter from Monrovia High has a multitude of skills that often get overlooked when PCC's bevy of talented sophomores are firing on all cylinders.

On Friday night at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium, To'omalatai simply put on a show for the home fans, serving a 2012 Lancers' high eight aces, knocking down 10 kills and making nine digs as the state No. 9-ranked PCC squad swept East Los Angeles, 25-16, 25-13, 25-9. The Lancers (15-3 overall) are perfect in South Coast Conference play at 9-0 and undefeated at home this year with an 8-0 mark. It was PCC's fourth consecutive sweep.

PCC took just 56 minutes to dispatch the Huskies (3-12, 2-7 in SCC), who had some spurts that challenged the Lancers at certain stretches. Claudia Mosqueda powered nine kills to lead the ELAC attack. It was Pasadena's serving that stood out as the team totaled 15 aces.

To'omalatai sparked PCC in set one with her hitting as she blasted seven of her attack kills. Viridiana Gallardo twirled three aces of her own in one sideout during a 6-0 run that made it 14-4. Setter Kailey Faust dished out 14 of her 22 assists in the game one win.

In set 2, ELAC jumped out to a 5-0 lead before PCC pulled ahead 8-7. The Lancers led 12-11 before To'omalatai's turn to serve doomed the Huskies. To'omalatai twirled four aces on a sideout that started after she had powered a kill. By the time Nora had made one of her few mistakes on her only serving error, the Lancers had increased the advantage to a commanding 8-point lead.

In set 3, PCC's second-string setter Lindsey Kuramoto sparked the team with her energy while To'omalatai waited for her rotation turn to serve. The prep star tallied three more aces during a sideout that produced seven consecutive points and a 10-1 lead. Later in the set, defensive specialist Briana Hilton served back-to-back aces. Kuramoto finished with 16 assists, 10 in the final game.

"Nora is a terrific player who has held her own in playing with our large sophomore group," said PCC head coach Tammy Silva. "I never worry about her because she's always in position, always making a play. She was approaching a very rare triple double in kills, digs and aces, and probably would have gotten it had I not subbed a lot in the last two games. As a team, we had our best practice of the season on Tuesday and carried that level of intensity into this match."

Gallardo recorded 10 kills (plus three aces) and libero Jennifer Estrada totaled 16 digs. Jackie Valle-Acosta hit .571 in the match on nine kills in 14 attempts. Fellow letterman middle blocker Megan Callen added seven kills and three blocks.

LATE SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR NEXT MATCH

PCC's next match has been changed to Tuesday, October 30 from the original Wednesday, October 31 schedule. The Lancers will play at Los Angeles Harbor College in a 6 p.m. conference match on Tuesday.

[Photo--Nora To'omalatai fires an attack during PCC's sweep over East Los Angeles Friday night at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium, image by Richard Quinton, sports information photographer.]

Release Date: 10/26/12
Robert Lewis, Sports Information
Phone: 626-585-7018, Email: rmlewis@pasadena.edu

Revised February 8, 2013 by rmlewis@pasadena.edu