(Walnut, CA) After dropping three consecutive matches last week, the Mt. SAC Women's Volleyball team responded with a 3-0 non-conference victory over visiting Chaffey College on Wednesday (September 14).
The Mounties, who improved to 7-3, defeated the Panthers 25-12, 25-20, 25-19.
Leading the way with a match-high 14 kills (.429) was sophomore outside hitter Riley DeGroot (5 Digs, 2 Service Aces). Sophomore opposite Allison Whiteman added seven kills.
Kylie Rhodes (4 Digs, 2 Service Aces) and Capri Salmon had 17 and 15 assists, respectively for the Mounties.
Sophomore Libero Riannel Arevalo led the team with nine digs.
"I just think that coming off of last week we needed the team to come together and get a good team win," Arevalo said. "I think we accomplished that (Wednesday). Each player played for the other and that's what got us the win.
"(Riley) went in hard 100 % aggressive and that's all we could ask for."
Mt. SAC took charge from the beginning, jumping out to a 13-3 lead in the first set. Whiteman and DeGroot each had three kills to help the Mounties to the early lead.
DeGroot ended the set with a kill for the 1-0 lead.
The second set was more of the same, as the Mounties built up a 13-8 lead and never trailed throughout.
Chaffey (5-7), crept back into the set to trail the Mounties by three points, 22-19. Sophomore outside hitter Savanna Corrales would answer with a kill to extend the lead, 23-19. Freshman outside hitter Melissa Polich ended the set with a kill on an assist from Salmon.
For the third set in a row, the Mounties took an early lead, 11-6, and ended the set/match with five kills for the last six points to give the Mounties the win.
"Last week we obviously played some really tough teams and we kind of reflected on our performance," Mt. SAC Volleyball coach Samantha Neely said. "We decided as a team that is not where we wanted to be.
"We spent the last two practices to regroup and reset to take our game to the next level. (Wednesday) was a really good representation that we have more fight in us."
Neely commented on DeGroot's big game at the net – "Riley stepped up bringing the energy and the momentum with her swings and Re (Arevalo) and Bristol (Christelman) also stepped up by bringing their energy."
The Mounties begin South Coast Conference action on Friday (September 16) at Rio Hondo (6:00 p.m.).
Follow Mt. SAC Women's Volleyball on Twitter @MtSAC_WVB or Instagram /mtsacvolleyball
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
