Mounties sweep Moorpark, 3-0 in non-conference match

Freshman Outside Hitter, Riley DeGroot going up for the Kill shot
Freshman Outside Hitter, Riley DeGroot going up for the Kill shot. Photo Courtesy of DavesSportsImage

(Walnut, CA) For the second consecutive home match of the season behind another huge supportive crowd, the Mt. SAC Women's Volleyball team responded with another 3-0 sweep, this time against visiting Moorpark College, Wednesday, September 1.

The Mounties (2-2) opened the season last week with a sweep of Citrus.

"They (Mt. SAC) are experienced players that have played high-level volleyball," Mt. SAC Volleyball coach Samantha Neely said. "I think they are bringing that to the Mt. SAC gym. We are really focusing on our side of the court and we've scheduled a tough preseason.

"We scheduled a tough preseason so we can be prepared for the conference (South Coast Conference). I think that those tough, five-set losses against Santa Barbara and Bakersfield last week, and being able to sweep another good team this week, has really built our confidence."

The Mounties handed previously undefeated Moorpark (4-1) its first loss of the young season by scores of, 25-14, 25-21, 25-12.

It was another dominating performance by outside hitter Riley DeGroot with 17 kills. The freshman also had seven digs from the backcourt and one service ace.

"We just stuck to our game plan," DeGroot said. "It's really important to stick to it and it worked out.

"(Wednesday) we played a lot better. I'm so happy. I'm super thankful that we had a lot of fans again for the support."

The Mounties also had another strong performance from freshman outside hitter JJ Quarles with 10 kills and five digs, along with six kills from OH Allison Whiteman.

Setter, Ally Euston contributed with 28 assists, four digs and two services aces.

Freshman Libero, Riannel Arevalo, was a force on the court with a season-high 20 digs for the Mounties.

The Mounties opened up the first set with a dominating performance. Leading, 8-6, early in the set, two small runs put Moorpark back on its heels and the Mounties never looked back.

With Euston serving for four straight winners, the run was culminated with a kill by Whiteman for the 12-6 lead.

After a point by Moorpark, Quarles then served for another six consecutive points, highlighted by multiple kills by DeGroot and the Mounties built up an insurmountable, 18-7 lead. Riley finished off the Raiders with a game-winning kill.

In the second set, the closest of the match, Mt. SAC held a five-point lead (20-15) late in the set, but Moorpark reeled off four straight points to close within one, 20-19.

However, after a crucial double hit by Moorpark, followed by a huge kill again by Whiteman, the Mounties led 23-19.

DeGroot, for the second consecutive game, ended it with another kill.

The third set was all Mt. SAC, as they jumped out to another big lead, 10-4.

A crucial moment in that set polished off the Raiders, as a long rally that saw multiple saves by the Mounties ended with a point and 14-6 lead for Mt. SAC.

A big diving dig by Arevalo highlighted the rally.

"With any hard-earned point and rally like that, and if we get the point, the energy will always go up," said Arevalo, who jumped as high as her 5-5 frame would take her in that rally for the point. "I always like to keep the team up and bring the energy and we're just going to go crazy."

DeGroot had two more big kills late in the set to put the match away for the Mounties.

"The crowd was awesome (Wednesday)," Neely added. "I heard them cheering the entire time. I know the crowd is made up of all of our Mt. SAC families and students and there is a whole lot of Mountie pride."  

Mt. SAC travels to Fullerton College Friday (Sept. 3) for a pair of matches in the FJC Quad. They play two matches against Riverside City College and host Fullerton.

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.