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Streaking La Sierra Keeps Pressure on Menlo in Volleyball
Posted: Oct 11, 2013

Streaking La Sierra Keeps Pressure on Menlo in Volleyball

Unbeaten at home this year and currently 7-1 in California Pacific Conference volleyball action, La Sierra is keeping the pressure on first-place Menlo, the only team to beat the Golden Eagles in conference this season.

WEEK IN REVIEW:

  • La Sierra earned two Cal Pac wins in Arizona last week, beating UC Merced and host Embry-Riddle, where all three teams squared against each other. The Golden Eagles took four games to dispatch UCM, led by Lina Semaia's 18 total kills and Lupe Garcia's 13 kills, five digs, and four block assists. Robyn Miller tallied 11 kills eight digs, and three block assists. Merced was led by a strong all-around effort from Valeria Martinez, who finished the match with 10 kills, 14 digs, and three service aces. Genna Garrett had 29 assists for the Bobcats. Against host ERAU, La Sierra swept all three games by dominating the net and taking advantage of ERAU errors. Semaia again led the team in kills with 13. Garcia contributed eight kills and three service aces. Both wins were engineered by senior setter Colleen Stafford, who combined for 68 assists and 15 digs. To cap off a perfect week, the Golden Eagles earned a straight-set non-conference win over West Coast Baptist.
  • UC Merced sandwiched two wins around the loss to La Sierra. The Bobcats swept Embry-Riddle and Mills to improve to 1-1 in conference, 8-6 overall. Garrett was again a major factor on offense, distributing 23 assists and serving up three aces. She also added seven digs. Martinez had a team-high seven kills and 10 digs.
  • Menlo, 3-0 in the Cal Pac and 9-5 overall, went on the road to beat Simpson and William Jessup. Outside hitters Courtney Calicdan and Nicole Yap combined for an impressive 31 kills in the match against Simpson. Yap led all players with 20 to power the offense, and four Lady Oaks tallied double-digit digs: Emma Oehler and Calicdan both had a team-high 19 while Yap added 15, and Kelly Sung finished with 11, as well as 41 assists. Simpson's Audrey Green had 16 kills and 10 digs to lead the Red Hawks. Victoria Furze led the team with 25 assists. In the William Jessup match, Calicdan and Yap again controlled the net with 18 kills apiece for Menlo. Calicdan also led the team with 20 digs while Oehler added 15. For the Warriors, Arianna Brusa had 33 assists, and Sara Hickenbottom led the team with 12 kills. Molly Collins led both teams with 17 digs.
  • William Jessup also lost a home match with Simpson. The Warriors lost in three games, but had solid performances from Katelyn Brandon, who had 26 assists, and Collins with 10 digs. The win was the only one for Simpson last week, after the Red Hawks lost to Menlo and PUC. In the Jessup match, Green stood out with 18 kills and nine digs, Jessica Lombardi added 10 kills, and Kelly Tycksen led the offense with 30 assists.
  • Pacific Union beat host Simpson in three straight, extending the Pioneers' win streak to five, and a 12-6 overall record, already triple the win total from last season. PUC, now 2-2 in conference play, was led by outside hitter Viridian Gallardo, who finished the match with nine kills and four aces. The Pioneers spread out the offensive attack with Jenna Glantz, Courtney Clark, and Sarah Cusick all finishing with kills apiece. Defensively, Lauren Secchitano had another outstanding night with 25 digs . Setter Kailey Faust posted 21 assists and nine digs on the night.
  • Embry-Riddle lost a pair of home matches, both in straight sets. The Eagles fell to UC Merced and La Sierra to drop to 0-0 in the Cal Pac, 0-0 overall. Freshman setter Hannah Mercurio stood out for the Eagles, recording 27 assists in the two matches.

COMING UP:

Friday, Oct. 11

Embry-Riddle at (RV) Menlo

Simpson at UC Merced

Saturday, Oct. 12

Embry-Riddle at Pacific Union

William Jessup at UC Merced

La Sierra at Occidental

Sunday, Oct. 13

La Sierra at Embry-Riddle

Tuesday, Oct. 15

La Sierra at No. 25 CSU San Marcos

UC Merced at Mills

Wednesday, Oct. 16

No. 16 Westmont at La Sierra

Thursday, Oct. 17

Simpson at William Jessup

Pacific Union at (RV) Menlo

West Coast Baptist at La Sierra

UC Santa Cruz at UC Merced

Friday, Oct. 18

William Jessup at Embry-Riddle

Simpson at La Sierra

NOTES AND QUOTES:

GAME CHANGE: Note that the Nov. 3 match between Simpson and Pacific Union has been switched to Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 at PUC.