Late Set Sparks Lead Tigers Past Dons in OEC Opener

The Riverside City College women's volleyball team and the Santa Ana College Dons each entered into tonight's showdown with noteworthy winnings streaks. For the Tigers, it was a three-game streak while the Dons were riding a five game streak. The set scores were close, but it was the Tigers who prevailed behind late-set poise leading to a three-set victory.

It was a thriller on the opening night of Orange Empire Conference (OEC) play as Riverside came out swinging. While the Tigers cruised in the first set, the final two sets were decided by a mere two points.

A pair of late set rallies in the final two sets put the Tigers over the top. Opportune time outs taken by Head Coach Clara Lowden allowed Riverside to regroup and climb back into the driver's seat.

It was the first match this season that the Tigers saw two players in double-digit kills. Leading the way was freshman Maggie Aburto. For the third-straight match, the freshman phenome landed in double-digit kills with a 15 piece tonight. She was one kill shy from tying her career-high mark. Furthermore, she did not record a single error.

Not only did she pace the Tigers offensively, but she led the team in digs with 12 and rose up for one block assist. She likely teamed up with sophomore Keeley Hober on the block. Hober was a monster at the net with four block assists, two solo stuffs and a trio of kills.

Freshman Jessica Lepe reached double-digit kills for a career-high 10 off 27 attempts. She chipped in on a nasty serving game with an ace. Freshman Ashley Elias-Romero lofted up a career-high three aces that acted as shifting points in the match. She also recorded eight digs and two assists.

It was a double barreled setter scheme with freshman Chloe Christelman and Hailey Gray sharing the reigns. Christelman one upped Gray by one set as she ended up with 15, while Gray trailed with 14.

Riverside (4-3, 1-0 OEC) will continue action on the road next Wednesday, September 22 as they face off against Saddleback College (4-2, 0-1 OEC) at 6 p.m.

Release by Nicho DellaValle, RCC SID