It's been a long time coming, but the 2019 Pasadena City College women's volleyball team is making serious noise at the state level. For the first time in six years, the Lancers reached the CCCWVCA State Top 25 Rankings and made the top 10 no less as the state's No. 9-ranked squad in the ratings released on Monday night.
PCC, also ranked No. 4 in the SoCal Region, ran off six straight victories to open the '19 campaign and it took five sets for state #4-ranked Bakersfield to hand the team its first defeat on Saturday at the Santa Barbara City College Quad. The Renegades held off the Lancers, 17-25, 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 15-6. Earlier in the day, PCC swept host SBCC, 25-20, 25-12, 25-14.
In the Santa Barbara win, three Lancers swung .400 exactly in Nalani Young (11 kills), Erykah Wilson (nine kills) and Paulina Lopez (eight kills). PCC hit .306 overall. Libero Grace Crawford totaled 20 digs and frosh middle blocker Maggie Harris added four aces.
Against Bakersfield, Crawford amassed 30 digs while Young had 14 kills and 28 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Janell Currier overcame some attack mistakes to finish with a tremendous stat line of 18 kills, 19 digs, and five aces. Letterman setter Nikki Hernandez dished out 35 assists and was solid on defense with 17 digs. Harris chipped in five kills and five blocks.
On the team's ranking, head coach Mike Terrill said, "It's wonderful to be recognized and we're excited about where we are as a team this season. We also acknowledge we have a lot of learning and getting better to do because it's a long season.
"As a program, we've made strides in the past few years and it simply comes down to the quality of women who represent us. Each year, we've recruited student-athletes that make us better on the court but most importantly we try to bring in people who have high character, players who put team above themselves. These players have worked really hard and they're still not satisfield. Harris may have said it best when she remarked, 'we're confident but not comfortable!' Also we've been lucky to have some excellent assistant coaches. It's been a fun run so far, and I can't wait to see where we go from here."
Pasadena will be tested this Wednesday, Sept. 11 when it travels to face #17 Moorpark College. First serve is 6 p.m.