Roster depth became an issue last year for the Pasadena City College women's volleyball team. Head Coach Mike Terrill addressed that in off-season recruiting by loading the roster with 22 players for this season. A number of newcomers and a few returners showed off their talents Friday in two victories at the 2025 PCC Tri Opener held at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.
The Lancers (2-0) swept Cypress, 25-18, 25-9, 25-19, then rallied from a set down to defeat Canyons, 19-25, 25-10, 25-13, 25-22.
In the opener, freshman defensive specialist Jayleen Almaraz served five of the team's 14 aces and the hitting trio of Payton Scott, Bobbie Torres and Izzy Taylor each scored eight kills. Returning All-South Coast Conference First Team selection and now full-time starting libero Juyeon Lee was solid with 14 digs (plus three aces) while Almaraz added nine digs.
Returning 6-foot tall, All-SCC Second Team choice Savannah Curtis (four kills) and prized 6-1 incoming middle blocker Delaney Blied (six kills) proved to be towers at the net. Curtis and Torres each recorded four blocks and Blied three as the Lancers block resulted in Cypress hitting a negative -.026. Sabiya Esquivel, a returning All-SCC Second Team OH from the 2021 Lancers South Coast championship squad, landed three aces.
In the win over Canyons, it was sophomore transfer setter Melissa Monterroza (from NAIA Walla Walla University in Washington state) putting on a distribution and scoring clinic. Monterroza dished out 40 assists, dumped six kills (just seven attempts), served two aces and her veteran stability allowed PCC's hitters to shine.
As the team hit .350 overall, Scott rifled 16 kills, Taylor, an opposite, delivered 14 kills (attacked at a .600 clip), Blied pounded 10 kills (and had three blocks), and Torres came on strong in the fourth set to total nine kills (and nine digs). Lee contributed 10 digs and three aces, Curtis three kills, and returning middle blocker Machijah Harville picked up two kills.
Frosh outside hitter Diana Magallon added six digs. First-year setter JanetMarie Reyes, who had three assists in a short reserve role v. Cypress, and returning sophomore opposite Mahrie Bedjakian each made appearances in the two matches.
Scott, a 5-9 outside hitter, comes to PCC as an All-Pacific League First Team selection and local product of Pasadena High. Taylor is a 5-9 talent from Northern California who played at Vanden High (Fairfield). Blied was All-Freeway League at La Habra High.
Other returning players on the PCC '25 roster are All-SCC Second Team MB Brianna Galvan and OH Maggie Hunter.
The rest of the freshmen corps include setters Naomi Yeoh (Arcadia HS), Arpa Khechadoorian (Burbank), and Julianna Wilson (South Hills), opposites Sophia Jones (Alhambra) and Leah Millage (from Arizona), libero Isabel De La Pena (Monrovia), and middle blocker Samantha Munoz Gomez (Norwalk).
Terrill talked about the Lancers outlook thus far.
"We took a positive step with our season in the opening matches. We've been competing hard in our practice gym to find a competitive lineup and we were happy with how they played. We did a wonderful job executing game plan adjustments and trusting each other that helped us gain an advantage in both matches. We played hard and had a balanced attack."
This Wednesday, Aug. 27, PCC hosts Ventura College in a 6 p.m. non-conference match at the HP Gym.
