Home Gym Serves Women’s Volleyball Well, Lancers Now 3-0

Post pandemic, the Pasadena City College women’s volleyball team has found a real home advantage at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. The Lancers are 44-12 at “The Pat” since the start of the 2021 season, a sensational .786 winning percentage. On Wednesday, PCC moved to 3-0 overall with yet another home triump, a sweep over Ventura, 25-23, 25-15, 25-13.

Led by Payton Scott‘s nine kills and .571 attack efficiency, The Lancers hit an impressive .388 as a team. Bobbie Torres added eight kills, seven digs, and two aces, Savannah Curtis six kills (just seven swings) and two blocks, Izzy Taylor six kills (.455), and Delaney Blied four kills and two blocks (one solo).

Melissa Monterroza continues to be a steady influence at setter with 25 assists plus two blocks while libero Juyeon Lee posted eight digs and two aces. Jayleen Almaraz collected four digs and made three sets for points.

The first set got dicey as Ventura pulled ahead 19-17 on an ace by Sadie Lishman. PCC roared back as Torres scored two kills to allow the sqaud to go ahead, 23-21. The Pirates tied it at 23-23, but Torres ripped another kill, then served an ace to cap a 2-point opening set win.

In the second set, Ventura led 8-7, but PCC outscored the Pirates, 18-7, the rest of the way. In the third, again Ventura played the Lancers point for point early on, taking another 8-7 lead. A Curtis kill and combined stuff with Taylor started a 12-2 run. The Pirates’ ship sunk entirely as Maggie Hunter came off the Lancers bench to serve back-to-back aces, putting the finishing touches on the home sweep.

“The first set could have gone either way and really Ventura pushed us early in the both of the last two sets,” said PCC head coach Mike Terrill. “We’re hitting .321 in our three wins and that type of efficiency is a total group effort. Our middles Delaney and Savannah shut down Ventura’s attack and they made a difference in our big runs.”

On Saturday, Aug. 30, PCC plays at the LA Mission Quad, facing Victor Valley at 2:30, then figure to be tested in a 6 p.m. matchup v. the undefeated host Eagles (4-0), who recently won an 8-team Mission Kickoff Classic tourney. LA Mission advanced to the 3C2A State Tournament last season.