Corsairs Shut Out the Eagles

By Danilo Perez | Staff Photographer, Writer

Santa Monica College (SMC) Women’s Volleyball player Prior Borick going for the 'kill' against LA Mission Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Women's Volleyball players Natalie Fernandez (8), Prior Borick (M) both going for the ball on their match against the Eagles from LA Mission on Wed. Sept 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

LA Mission Women’s Volleyball head coach Nabil Mardini (L) arguing with Santa Monica College Athletic Director Reggie Ellis (R). The dispute led Ellis to call the match before the end of the first set but would ultimately resume after on Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

LA Mission Women’s Volleyball head coach Nabil Mardini pacing around and grabbing his things as the match was initially over before it began again after a couple of minutes on Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Volleyball officials discussing with Santa Monica College (SMC) Athletic Director Reggie Ellis to figure out what the situation was as the match between SMC and LA Mission were put on pause on Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. ( Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Women’s Volleyball players Maiella Riva (L) and Mia Paulson (R) unable to block a ball against LA Mission Eagles during their match Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Women’s Volleyball player Maiella Riva getting the ball over against LA Mission Eagles during their match Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Allison Horin (L), Mika Poerantz (M) and unnamed member from Santa Monica College posing during the second set of the game where they had the lead against LA Mission on Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Santa monica College (SMC) Women’s Volleyball team celebrating after securing a point against LA Mission Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Women’s Volleyball player Sophia Odle serving the ball against LA Mission Eagles during their match Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Women’s Volleyball payer Zarha Stanton waiting for the ball to be set by LA Mission on Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Women’s Volleyball player Sophia Odle preparing to hit the ball back over to LA Missions side during their match Wed. Sept. 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Women’s Volleyball player Prior Borick (R) going for the hit against two LA Mission Eagle players on Wed. Sept 6 in the Corsair Gym at Santa Monica, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)

SMC Women’s Volleyball keeps LA Mission from taking a set to win 3-0.

The Santa Monica College Corsairs Women’s Volleyball team, just as in the previous season, continued to play with passion as they took on the Eagles from Los Angeles Mission College in the SMC Pavilion Gym. The match was played right after their match against Cuyamaca College on Wednesday, September 6. The last time the Corsairs faced the Eagles, the Corsairs came out on top. The Corsairs ended their 2022/23 season with a 19-8 overall and landsliding Eagles overall with a 16-12 overall.

Before the end of the first set, a misunderstanding and altercation happened between Eagles head coach Nabil Mardini and SMC Assistant Athletic Director Lydia Ayala which then quickly led SMC Athletic Director Reggie Ellis to step in. The altercation stopped the match for a couple of minutes, when Ellis decided to end the match before the end of the first set, due to Mardini continuing to argue. Both teams were left confused whether to continue the game or not, but it then resumed after referees, Corsair coaches, and Ayala huddled to decide what the plan was, as Mardini was pacing around packing and unpacking his things. The set ended with the Corsairs winning 25-15.

Before the start of the second set, Mardini told the Eagles to grab their things and leave, which led to more confusion. Referees gathered again to see what the issue was, but they then saw Mardini sit down on the team's chairs. So began the second set. The Corsairs went and took the second set 25-23.

The third set was the most heated. Both teams pushed hard with the Eagles having the lead, and then quickly losing it to the Corsairs, who then worked their way up to match point. As the sideline began hyping up the Corsairs to get that final point, the game point was won after an error played by the Eagles giving the Corsairs another shutout for the day with a final score of 25-18 and 3-0 on sets.

The Corsairs’ next home game will be against the Jets from San Diego Miramar College in the SMC Pavilion Gym at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 8.