Last season, the Pasadena City College women's volleyball team played an extraordinary amount of matches that went the 5-set distance. In all PCC played eight such matches with a .500 record of 4-4. It only took two days into this season for the Lancers to be drawn into another fifth decider contest.
PCC lost the opening game, dominated the next two sets, lost a tough fourth only to once again take control in the fifth to down host Mt. San Jacinto College, 21-25, 25-13, 25-15, 23-25, 15-6, Wednesday night. The Lancers are 2-0 already after two matches, the best start in fourth-year head coach Mike Terrill's tenure at PCC and the first time a Lancers team started 2-0 since 2015.
Letterman outside hitter Janell Currier slammed 14 kills and added 16 digs while freshman OH Nalani Young contributed 12 kills and 19 digs. Frosh middle blocker Paulina Lopez came up big with 10 kills (only 20 attempts) and three blocks. Sophomore libero Grace Crawford was all over the floor with 28 digs while second-year setter Nikki Hernandez made 20 digs and dished out 34 assists. First-year opposite Kaitlyn Karsten added eight kills while freshman defensive specialist Saku Yoshioka spun six service aces and had 17 digs. Middle blocker Isabella Hernandez added four blocks.
For the Eagles (0-1), Makenzie Nutting scored nine kills and made nine total blocks (five solos).
"We played so well in the sets we won, it was impressive to watch," Terrill said. "MSJC has a high energy team and they're well-organized. They never quit and came back in a tough fought fourth set. Before going into the fifth set, we talked about being the more aggressive team. I'm pleased we played to our potential and got it done under the pressure of the shorter fifth game. Now we look forward to a tough test Friday against both Santa Monica (champions of the Western State Conference East Division last year) and Cypress (a perennial high-ranked squad from the Orange Empire)."
The PCC Quad #1 will be on the road Friday (Aug. 30) at Santa Monica College due to delays in the final renovation of the Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium floor. PCC opens with a 3:30 p.m. match v. SMC and then takes on Cypress at approximately 6 p.m.