The women's volleyball team finished off a perfect weekend with two conference wins over the University of Antelope Valley (3-0) and the University of California – Merced (3-2). The two wins, over the weekend, capped off a string of six straight matches played on the road, with a record of 3-3 over those six matches.
The weekend started with a 3-0 win over the Pioneers (25-17, 25-22, 25-23) on Friday afternoon. The Golden Eagles capitalized on 15 ball-handling errors by Antelope Valley, in addition to 20 attack errors.
Outside hitter Caitlin Marinos led the Golden Eagles with nine kills, against only three errors, on 17 total attempts. Samantha Marquez, Taylor Moran, and Abby Latuhoi, who each added seven kills in the match, joined her in the effort. Erin Miller added a match-high 11 digs in the win.
On Saturday night, the Golden Eagles traveled to Merced, Calif. for a rematch of last season's Cal Pac semifinal match-up. After dropping the first two sets 25-18 and 25-19, La Sierra found themselves with their back up against the wall.
In Set 3, the Bobcats jumped out to an early 9-3 lead, and it looked as though Merced was on its way to a straight set victory. But the Golden Eagles had other plans, as they rattled off nine straight points to take an 11-9 lead in the set. For the remainder of the set, the two teams went back-and-forth sharing the lead with neither team enjoying more than a two-point lead for the remainder of the set.
La Sierra had the first opportunity to secure the Set 3 win but were turned away when the Bobcats Rachael Schaefer picked up one of her team-leading 15 kills, tying the score at 24-24. After an attack error by the Golden Eagles, Merced found themselves with a match point; one point away from a 3-0 Cal Pac victory. The two teams would rally back-and-forth, but the Golden Eagles fought off the match point when the Bobcats were called for a ball handling error. La Sierra finally put he set away (27-25) with a kill Latuhoi and pushing the match to fourth set.
The Golden Eagles carried that momentum and took advantage of a stunned UC Merced squad and jumped out to an early 7-1 lead, eventually cruising to a 25-13 victory in Set 4, and sending the match to a fifth and deciding set.
The Bobcats were able to regroup as the two teams battled throughout Set 5. It was a set that consisted of 13 tie scores and numerous lead changes. Latuhoi took advantage of a free ball, picking up her eighth kill in the match, and giving La Sierra the lead for good. Maya Hanna closed the match out with an ace and a 17-15 victory in Set 5.
Marquez led all players with 17 kills on the night, with Marinos adding 15 kills, 11 digs, four assists, and three block assists. Taylor Moran also pitched in with eight kills, seven digs, and five block assists.
As a team, the Golden Eagles dominated the play at the net as they compiled a season-high 17.5 blocks (29 block assists and three solo blocks). Latuhoi led the way with nine block assists and three solo blocks.
Setters Smriti Sharma and Marissa Fregoso who finished with 21 assists and 19 assists, respectively, led the offense, and also contributed defensively with 11 digs and nine digs, respectively. Libero Emily Morgan led the team with 20 digs, with Hanna adding 13 digs of her own.
The two wins push their record to 3-2 in Cal Pac play (8-7 overall). The women's volleyball team returns home this Tuesday for a non-conference match with Providence Christian College followed by a re-match with UC Merced on Thursday evening. Both matches are scheduled for a 7pm start.
