Comeback Queens Back at it Again
Miscommunication, attack errors and mistouches almost cost women’s volleyball another WSC South loss.
The Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs women’s volleyball team played against the Citrus College Owls at home on Wednesday, Oct. 19. SMC entered the game with a 13-4 season record and a solidified second place spot in the Western State Conference (WSC) South with a 4-1 record. The Owls held a 6-12 overall record and a 2-3 WSC record prior to the game. On paper the Corsairs looked like the clear winner, but the game proved that to be difficult.
Citrus scored the game's first point through an SMC attacking error. From there the game was back and forth between Citrus taking a minor lead and SMC tying it up. The Corsairs broke a 6-6 tie through an attacking error by the Owls and were able to take the lead from there. Kills, service errors, attack errors and a few aces helped the Corsairs hold onto their substantial first set lead, closing it out at 25-18.
SMC started the scoring off in the second set and it seemed to be going well for them as they quickly got to a five point lead. The Owls had other plans though and rallied enough to tie the set at seven points apiece and take the lead from there. They at some point held a six point lead over the Corsairs but just as the Owls, SMC battled back and tied the set at 22 points apiece. They were able to get one more point but ultimately Citrus secured the second set 25-23.
The third set started off similar to the second set with the Corsairs taking the early lead. Both teams exchanged leads a few times before the Owls were able to keep it and secure the set 25-22. Kills, service errors, and attack errors fueled the Corsairs offense in the fourth set to get a strong and early lead. They never allowed the Owls to get close so the Corsairs successfully closed out the fourth set at 25-12.
The final set, shortened to 15 points, saw the Corsairs with an early 5-0 lead. Citrus wasn’t going to let SMC take the game so easily, however, and they managed to tie the set at nine points apiece. They tied the set once more at ten, but failed to take the lead and SMC seized the fifth set 15-13, and the game 3-2.
Middle Blocker Maiella Riva reflected postgame on the win. Riva acknowledged a change in blocks and passes helped propel them to their comeback win, and how she herself could’ve made a difference with some blocks and touches she didn’t execute correctly. She knew the game shouldn’t have been as difficult as it was, but she was proud of the team for the win and the improvement they’ve made throughout the season as a whole.
“I’ve come a long way. The whole team has come a long way. Our coach is awesome, Christian is the best,” Riva said. “I’ve learned so much in such a short amount of time."
Middle Blocker Rain Martinez reflected on the win as well. Same as Riva, she knew the game shouldn’t have gone on as long as it did. Communication and being more aggressive were things she acknowledged could’ve been improved throughout the game to make it easier. She was excited with the win overall and ready to keep practicing new tactics to improve her gameplay and keep seeing improvement with the team as a whole.
“I’ve seen a lot of change in everyone on the team and we’ve become a better family,” Martinez said.
The Women’s Volleyball team’s record is now 14-5 overall and 5-2 in the WSC South. Their next game will be a home game on Wednesday, Oct. 26 against the West Los Angeles College Wildcats. Last time they faced off the Corsairs got the upper hand in a 3-2 victory.