While the state #3-ranked Pasadena City College women's volleyball posted its 15th consecutive victory in four sets over Rio Hondo College, Wednesday night will be more remembered for the program's annual celebration of sophomores at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. Head coach Mike Terrill has made the experience a special one for players who are outgoing sophomores combined with team members who are graduating from PCC after one playing season.
The ceremony took place following the victory as 2-season letterman--outside hitter Nalani Young, middle blocker Paulina Lopez, and defensive specialist/libero Saku Yoshioka--were focused in the latter half of the recognition. Family members and friends attended the postgame festivities.
"It's a tradition that we honor our sophomores and those continuing their education/playing careers as they leave PCC," Terrill said. "Considering the success we have achieved so far this season, this clearly is a special group. Nalani, Paulina and Saku stuck with this program going back to 2019, enduring the pandemic and being away from a normal team atmosphere for over a year. They are key contributors to our winning ways this season.
"Honoring their commitment to Lancers volleyball as well as their achievements through the ceremony is just a small token of our appreciation as a coaching staff as they grew as adults and improved as student-athletes. It was also gratifying to see the players' family members, who did not have the opportunity until just recently to attend PCC events, be present for this ceremony."
In the match itself, Young tallied 10 kills, 14 digs and three aces, Lopez had six kills, two blocks and two aces while Yoshioka, playing at libero, had 14 digs and one ace. PCC upped its record to 18-1 and remained perfect in South Coast Conference play at 13-0.
Freshman outside hitter Sabiya Esquivel came up large with her season-high of 16 kills (hit .256) with four digs. Setter Annie Lay also had her PCC high with 29 assists (plus nine digs and two aces). Opposite Camila Sanchez-Tellez added 11 kills and two blocks. Verenice Gonzalez, playing middle blocker, contributed three kills, six digs, three blocks and two aces. Setter Nayeli SalasOrtiz chipped in 19 assists, 10 digs and three aces and Leena Albelo twirled three aces as PCC totaled 16 direct service points.
Gonzalez, Lay, libero Kei'ana Pascua, Sanchez-Tellez, and Albelo all took part in the sophomore celebration as players who will likely be moving on from PCC after the 2021-22 school year.
PCC 3, at LA Harbor 0, October 29
The Lancers attacked .308 as a team including Sanchez-Tellez's 10 kills (.364) and Bia Silva's eight kills (.538) with 15 assists and six digs as they swept host Los Angeles Harbor College, 25-16, 25-13, 25-16. Middle blocker Monet Latunde added five kills and both SalasOrtiz and Young (also 12 digs) served three aces a piece.
Terrill said, "I thought this was one of our better recent matches in terms of overall focus. We still were a bit slow out of the gates but really went on some great runs of points where we were playing at our potential, especially in the last two sets. Cami and Bia hit very well on the right, Sabiya had another strong match, and Monet and Paulina were solid in the middle. Our setters found the hot hitters in system and our out-of-system setting and attacking was excellent (Kei'ana had 7 assists total, and Sabiya was excellent hitting high balls)."
PCC nexts visits Cerritos College on Friday, Nov. 5 in a 6 p.m. conference match.