Revenge Game

By Lucas Weiss | Staff Writer

Santa Monica College Corsairs' Natalie Fernandez, Sophia Odle, Prior Borick, Mia Paulson, and Zarha Stanton during the women's volleyball match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

"She got me!" Mia Paulson lies on the floor, being assisted by Maiella Riva and Natalie Fernandez, after getting smacked in the face with the ball during the women's volleyball match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs' Mia Paulson and Zarha Stanton during the women's volleyball match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs libero Sophia Odle during the women's volleyball match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs' Sophia Odle (right) executes a successful dig next to Natalie Fernandez (left) during the women's volleyball match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jaylynn Fierro, Natalie Fernandez, Mia Paulson, and Mylah Niksa react to scoring a point during the women's volleyball match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs' outside hitter Prior Borick bumps the ball during the women's volleyball match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs' Maiella Riva hits the ball past College of the Canyons Cougars' Leah Gillie during the women's volleyball match on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs' Mia Paulson (right) hits the ball past College of the Canyons Cougars' (from left) Leah Gillie and Kaireese Johnson during the women's volleyball match on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

All players watch the ball during the women's volleyball match between the Santa Monica College Corsairs and the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs' Jaylynn Fierro, Maiella Riva, Natalie Fernandez (rear right), and Prior Borick (2) gather around and laugh with Mia Paulson (seated) after she got smacked in the face with the ball during the women's volleyball match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Corsairs Women's Volleyball Head Coach Christian Cammayo (center left), next to assistant coach Chris Chown (right), fails to contain his laughter after Mia Paulson (left) got smacked in the face with the ball during the match against the College of the Canyons Cougars on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at Corsair Gym in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs won 3-0. (Nicholas McCall | The Corsair)

Women’s volleyball takes on Canyons, whom they lost to last year.

On Friday, Oct. 27, the SMC women’s volleyball team competed against the College of the Canyons Cougars at Corsair Gym, winning 3-0.

Last year, the Cougars were responsible for two of the Corsairs’ three conference losses, so this was a revenge game for the team. This time, the first and second sets were almost no competition, with SMC winning 25-12 and 25-10, respectively. Setter Sophia Odle shined throughout, making a couple of amazing dives to save possessions when the ball was inches from hitting the ground, increasing the team’s momentum and getting the crowd into the game.

The third set was by far the closest. Setter Mia Paulson started off strong, scoring four points in a row. However, even with her excellent play, the teams were neck and neck the whole way through, and SMC ended up winning by only two points, 25-23.

After the game, Odle explained her thoughts on the game, saying “This year, we just have such a good bond on our team, and we just played better. We showed up and they didn't.” When asked about her thoughts on the future, she responded confidently, saying “I think if we play like how we did today and just come out strong and keep our positive energy, playoffs will be a breeze.”