(Walnut, CA) The Mt. SAC Beach Volleyball team is off to another great start for the second year in a row as they swept visiting Bakersfield, 4-1 and 4-1, in both matches on Friday, February 16.

In last year's historic season, the Mounties compiled a 23-2 overall record. With the double dual win over Bakersfield, the Mounties are perfect at 7-0 against community colleges.

"We graduated seven sophomores last year, which had a lot of experience," said Mt. SAC Head Coach Samantha Neely, of the 2023 South Coast Conference champions. "That was reflected in our season overall record.

"This year we were expected to come out and have some growing pains. But our freshmen have grown incredibly over the last six weeks, and they've really proven that they can compete at a much higher level than what was expected of them to begin with."

Leading the way for Mt. SAC with an undefeated record is the sophomore 2's pair of Capri Salmon and Elizabeth Ortiz. They have not dropped a set this season. In the 2022 season, they only lost two sets all season. "Overall, we just push each other to our max," said Salmon, who also was a two-year starter as a setter for the indoor team. "From indoor to beach is just so different. Running on the sand is one of the most difficult things to do. Liz and I do a pretty good job of finding where they aren't. That's the way we're going to score."

Ortiz said of their leadership, as two of the four sophomores: "I think it's really cool that Coach Sam has put us in a spot to lead the team," Ortiz said. "I think it's really cool that everyone looks up to each other and is really close, friends-wise. As a program, I think these two years are going to be good with this young team. Next year they are going to have a ton of returners."

Match No. 1

Mt. SAC 4, Bakersfield 1

In the opening match, the 2's (Salmon/Ortiz) gave the Mounties a 1-0 lead with a 21-10, 21-8 sweep. The 5's (Eva Becerra/Freda Lei), 21-12, 21-6 gave Mt. SAC a 2-0 lead, which was followed by two more sweeps finishing almost at the same time by the 1's (Zyra Green/Candace Ceballos), 21-12, 21-10 and 3's (Andrea Brewer/Naara Ortega), 21-19, 21-14 for a 4-0 score. Bakersfield avoided a sweep in the match with its only win, defeating the Mt. SAC 4's (Kyra Miller/Jillian De Leon) in three sets, 21-16, 18-21, 15-11.

Match No. 2

Mt. SAC 4, Bakersfield 1

Highlighting the second dual was a switch by Neely for the 2's team of Salmon/Ortiz moving up to the 1's spot. The duo continued their perfect (7-0) start to the season with another sweep, 21-11, 21-15. They have 14 consecutive set wins this season. "I think both pairs, referring to (1's) Zyra (Green) and Candace (Ceballos) and (2's) Liz (Ortiz) and Capri (Salmon), have been doing very well, so I wanted to challenge them and give Liz and Capri the opportunity to play at the 1's," Neely said.

"Additionally, just preparing for next week at Santa Barbara, we are hoping to add two more eligible players to our roster. We're excited for what's to come in the next few weeks of preseason." Both pairs (1's – Ortiz/Salmon and 2's Green/Ceballos) won their matches in sweeps, along with two more sweeps by the 3's (Brewer/Ortega) and 5's (Becerra/Lei). Bakersfield won against the 4's to avoid the sweep, 4-1.

Mt. SAC will continue its undefeated start to the season with matches against host Santa Barbara City College and Mt. San Jacinto on Friday, February 23.