By John M. Sherrard
(CERRITOS) The last time Mt. SAC volleyball coach Ali Carey-Oliver stepped in the Cerritos College gym, she was co-head coach of the Falcons.
The tables turned Wednesday night as Carey-Oliver returned as the first-year Mt. SAC coach and led her team to a four-set South Coast Conference victory.
The Nineteenth-ranked Mounties won 25-16, 25-15, 19-25, 25-19 for their sixth consecutive win.
"This is my first time coaching against them," said Carey-Oliver, who coached at Cerritos and was an All So Cal selection in her sophomore season as a player.
"It's cool to have a homecoming and nice to come in a get a win in my own gym."
Carey-Oliver was also a two-time All SCC selection at Cerritos.
It doesn't get any easier as the Mounties (13-1, 4-0) will host No. 10 El Camino College (13-3, 4-0), which has won 39 consecutive conference games, this Friday. Game time is 6:00 p.m.
The Mounties had a balanced front-line attack with four players in double figures with kills: freshman middle blocker Jordon Wilson had a team-high 12 kills; sophomore outside hitter Makenzie Thieme, 11 kills; sophomore outside hitter Erica Gumz, 11 kills; sophomore outside hitter Haley English, 10 kills.
Mt. SAC sophomore setter Carolina Urquieta had a match-high 40 assists.
"I feel like as a setter my connection with Jordon (Wilson) is better and the other two (Thieme, Kaitlyn Partridge) also," Urquieta said. "I feel if I get a good pass I know I can trust both of them to put it away." And that they did, combining for 44 kills in the match.
Subbing for sophomore libero Alexandria Peterson was freshman Brianna Elias with numerous good digs (16) that kept many rallies alive.
After a close game-one to start the match at 15-12, the Mounties reeled off six straight points and Cerritos (7-8, 2-2) never recovered for the loss.
Game two was more of the same as the Mounties again built up a six-point lead, behind a kill from Thieme in her typical high-leaping ability to win the point.
English would serve it out with Gumz ending the game with a block to give the Mounties the 2-0 advantage in the set.
The Falcons came away with the game-three win, as the Mounties trailed most of the way with Falcon freshman outside hitter Grace Mendez ending the game with a kill.
The Mounties regrouped for game four building up a quick 7-1 lead and eventual 11-4 advantage. Highlighting the game was Wilson, who has steadily improved on the season, providing Mt. SAC with numerous timely kills, this time to give them a 13-8 lead.
"She (Wilson) is coming into her own and finding out how to be more aggressive," added Carey-Oliver. Wilson was 12 of 25 on kill attempts.
Three out of the last five points were on kills by Gumz, English and Wilson to put away the Falcons for the match.
Now the Mounties welcome El Camino this Friday on another of the six theme nights at the Mountie gym. It will be "Breast Cancer Awareness Night." Please wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Donations will be taken at the game to benefit the Dig Pink Foundation.
"El Camino is big, but Cerritos went five (games) with them," Carey-Oliver said. "Everybody is beating everybody. It's crazy."