By John M. Sherrard
(Walnut, CA) Ah, home sweet home for the Mt. SAC Women's Volleyball team. Before a nice home crowd, the Mounties (1-2) swept Ventura College in three games, 25-16, 25-15, 25-23, to get into the win column on the young season.
"Last year we didn't have an incredibly difficult preseason, aside from Grossmont," Mt. SAC Volleyball coach Ali Carey-Oliver said. "You have to play tough competition to get a better playoff seed."
After a 0-2 start with two tough losses last week, the team rebounded with authority and sent the Pirates to their first loss of the season against four wins.
The sweep was completed after a huge come-from-behind win in the third game.
"That (comeback) was a good confidence builder," Carey-Oliver said. "It's a tribute to them to keep their cool and keep their heads and keep on playing. They did a really good job."
Leading two games to none and trailing, 10-3 in the third set, the comeback began and with every big kill on the front line, the home crowd urged the Mounties on to victory.
Sophomore middle blocker Jordon Wilson led the team with 10 kills and three blocks in the game.
The Mounties had 27 kills in the match, which also included six from freshman outside hitter Alysha Tullar (3 aces, 12 digs) and four kills from freshman OH Angelique Lee (8 digs).
Contributing with 19 assists was freshman OH Saipeti Fuiava (5 digs) and playing a strong libero/defensive specialist was freshman Malia Carr with a match-high 14 digs. As a team the Mounties accounted for 47 digs in the game.
"They were two very good teams (two losses to Grossmont, Cypress) and that motivated us to play better (Wednesday)," said Wilson of the win. "We were fired up and ready to go."
Mt. SAC never trailed in the first two sets, leading by as much as seven points, 19-12, in the first and a quick, 6-1 start in the second.
Ventura, trailing 14-7, in the second, rallied with four consecutive points to climb within three, 14-11, but that was as close as they would get. Two big kills down the stretch by Lee and freshman MB Shaianne Palos (3 kills) were the difference late for the 25-15 win.
Then came the third set. The Pirates started the set with a 6-1 lead and built it up to eight, 12-4, but then the comeback began.
A kill by Wilson started the run for the Mounties as they outpointed Ventura, 17-9, and tied the set at 21-21 on a kill by freshman MB Lindsey Lane.
Mt. SAC finished off the match with a 4-2 advantage, which included two crucial service errors by Ventura and a match-ending block up front by Palos.
Mt. SAC will head south again this weekend and play in the 32nd Annual San Diego Mesa College Invitational, with the first match on Friday against Mesa at 4:00 pm.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.