The state #11-ranked Pasadena City College women's volleyball team looked every bit like an upper-level squad in sweeping Rio Hondo, 25-12, 25-23, 25-20, Wednesday night in the Lancers' South Coast Conference opener. Three different players reached double digits in kills as sophomore setter Nikki Hernandez dished out 33 assists.
On a 4-match win streak, PCC upped its record to 10-2 while Rio Hondo, led by Nicole Vasquez with eight kills, dropped to 6-4 with its third straight defeat.
Janell Currier slammed 14 kills (hit .343) with 10 digs while Nalani Young had 10 kills and 12 digs. Erykah Wilson delivered 10 kills and served three aces. Libero Saku Yoshioka added 15 digs and three aces. Middle blocker Paulina Lopez contributed three attack kills and four blocks.
In the second set, the Lancers faced a Rio Hondo rally that cut the score to one, 22-21. The teams traded points until it reached 24-23 on a kill by the Roadrunners Katherina O'Brien. But PCC avoided extra points as Hernandez set Wilson for a set-point kill. In the third set, Pasadena ran out to a 24-15 lead but Rio Hondo wouldn't quit with five straight points before Currier landed match point.
PCC head coach Mike Terrill talked about his setter Hernandez, who had 12 digs, and the difference from her freshman season to now.
"Nikki has come a long way in her skill set to become a starting setter for us. She is definitely pushed by our other setter (Madison Blohm) and I think that competition in practice has motivated Nikki. She asked to take more reps early this week and I think it showed in her play tonight. She did a nice job of distributing the ball. From when she was a freshman to this year, she is playing a ton better."
Terrill was pleased with his pin hitters and was happy the Lancers were able to close out a match in three sets (fourth sweep of the season) after going four sets in each of their previous two matches.
"To have three players reach double figures in kills and to reach 40 kills in three sets is impressive. It was a nice beginning to conference for us."
PCC travels to face its rival the past few seasons in Mt. San Antonio. The Mounties, though are off to a rough 1-7 start to the season, but host the Lancers on Friday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m.