In their season opener, the Cerritos College volleyball team fought back after losing the first two sets against host West Los Angeles College, but came up short in their five-set loss, 16-25, 20-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-13. The Falcons (0-1) will look to rebound next Wednesday when they host Mt. San Jacinto College in their 5:00 p.m. home opener.

After a slow start to the match, Cerritos started to work their comeback, but had to hold off the Cougars in the third set, who were one point away from a sweep. Trailing, 21-24, the Falcons scored teh next five points and were able to come away with a 26-24 win to extend the match. They followed that by pulling out the fourth set, 25-22 to send the match to a fifth set.

Cerritos was leading, 7-5 in the fifth set, but West LA took advantage of several hitting errors and recorded the win with a 15-13 score.

Sophomore Abigail Gutierrez (Downey HS) led the Falcons with 12 kills and added 17 digs, with freshman Kira Magdaleno (Artesia HS) accounting for 11 kills and 13 digs. Sophomore setter Carissa Mendibles (Downey HS) directed the offense with 43 assists and had three service aces, with sophomore Aiyana Sierra (La Mirada HS) posting four aces to go with seven kills. Freshman Kaydence Portillo (Bell Gardens HS) produced eight kills, while sophomore Brianna Lizarraga (Paramount HS) led the back row with 19 digs.