Never Tell Corsairs the Odds

Danniel Sumarkho | Design Editor

Santa Monica College Corsairs opposite hitter Zarha Stanton during the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs (L to R) setter Mia Paulson, setter Jaylynn Fierro, and outside hitter Madison Schweitzer during the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs setter Sophia Odle (right) with middle blocker Mylah Niksa (front) and outside hitter Nataliie Fernandez (back) during the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs setter Sophia Odle during the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs women's volleyball member during a timeout at the match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Chargers have started catching up in points, putting pressure on the Corsairs. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College students (L to R) Peter Dalton Droog, Bryce Bowsher, and Nate Davis cheering during the fith set at the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs opposite hitter Zarha Stanton (center) and outside hitter Maiella Riva (right) attempts to block a shot from Cypress College Chargers opposite hitter Zoe Ziegler (left) during the women's volleyball match against each other at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs in a "cooldown" after the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs middle blocker Mylah Niksa (center) and outside hitter Prior Borick (right) blocking a ball from Cypress College Chargers opposite hitter Kaelyn Arnold (left) during the women's volleyball match against each other at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs middle blocker Mylah Niksa (right) hugging with setter Mia Paulson (left) right after they won the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs during the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs setter Mia Paulson during the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs middle blocker Adriana Brady (right) walking past Cypress College Chargers outside hitter Zariah Honeycutt (no. 21) and opposite hitter Kaitlyn Emma Casino (no. 17) during the women's volleyball match against each other at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Chargers had just won the fourth set, tying the Corsairs 2-2. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs women's volleyball members celebrating in a roar right after the Corsairs won the fifth set during the women's volleyball match against Cypress College Chargers at Cypress College Gymnasium number 2, Cypress, Calif., on Nov 21, 2023. The Corsairs had started the fifth set with a deficit of 1-10 but made a historical comeback to win the fifth set at 17-15. “The math is like 99% we would lose that match,” head coach Christian Cammayo said. The Corsairs won 3-2. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Women’s volleyball wins second playoff round against Cypress.

After a bye week, the No. 10-seeded Santa Monica College Corsairs women’s volleyball team played against the No. 7-seeded Cypress College Chargers in the second round of the 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs. The Corsairs won 3-2 in a five-set thriller in Cypress College Gymnasium 2, on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

The Corsairs won the first set 25-15, and the second set at 25-21. With such a strong 2-0 lead, every indication suggested that the Corsairs would take the third set. However, the Chargers pressed hard against the Corsairs, taking the third and fourth sets at 25-23 and 25-21 respectively.

The fifth set did not start well for the Corsairs, down 1-10 to the Chargers. “The math is like 99% we would lose that match,” head coach Christian Cammayo said.

Despite the overwhelming odds, the Corsairs turned the game back around and scored point after point to win the final set 17-15. Celebrations were in high order as cheers roared from the SMC crowd, some of whom even ran on to the court to celebrate with the players.

“This is just such a wonderful team, it takes an unbelievable team to, A: believe that they can do something like this, and then, B: to pull it off,” said Cammayo.

The Corsairs advanced to play the No. 2-seeded Ventura College Pirates for the Southern California Regional Final on Nov. 25 in Ventura.

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