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PCC Season Preview: Veteran Influence Key for Women’s Volleyball

Published on Thursday, August 27, 2015 | 3:32 pm
 
File Photo--All-South Coast Conference player Kendra Logan returns from the '13 Lancers as PCC prepares for the 2015 season.

A new head coach and a familiar returning middle blocking duo from two seasons ago has given the Pasadena City College women’s volleyball team high hopes entering the 2015 season. Kari Post, who served as the team’s assistant coach the past two years, begins her first year as Lancers head coach.

The Lancers are hoping to rebound from a tough ’14 season, a 5-16 finish and a disappointing sixth place in the South Coast Conference. Only a year earlier, with guidance from Post, did the Lancers rank No. 14 in the state and finish 15-10 while reaching the second round of the 2013 SoCal Regional Playoffs.

Fortunately for PCC, two key, All-SCC FIrst Team middle blockers return from that successful squad in Kendra Logan and Angela Banuelos. Logan led the conference in block kills average at 0.93 per set (81 overall) and added 101 attack kills. Banuelos was third on the Lancers in hitting kills (145), second in service aces (34), second in blocks (69), and she led the team with a .280 kill percentage. She played in all 95 sets (25 matches) while Logan also started all season.

Two more players from that ’13 team also return in defensive specialists Saige Spence (150 digs) and reserve Samantha Flores.

In all, PCC has 10 sophomores, including three starters from last season. Top player Lahiz Longobardi, an All-SCC Second Team outside hitter, led the Lancers in kills (232, 3.36 per set average) and was second in digs (178, 2.58). Middle blocker Chy’Annea Hodges also returns after finishing second on the team in kills (148, 2.24) and leading in blocks (34). Hodges later played as a guard on the 2014-15 women’s basketball team. Other ’14 lettermen are right side/outside hitter Carmina Ortiz (64 kills, 18 blocks as a starting middle blocker) and reserve defensive specialist Remington Moore.

The veteran theme continues with the additions of sophomore transfers in outside hitter Kirsten Cabarong (from Pierce College) and right side hitter Kayla Howell, who played at NCAA Division I Saint Peters University (New Jersey). As a freshman libero, she led the Peacocks in digs with 402 in 29 matches.

The team’s freshmen group includes two setters in probable starter Hannah Clarke (Glendora High, played on Palomares League champion as a senior) and Monica Hernandez, an All-LA City First Team selection at Eagle Rock High.

Rounding out the roster are newcomers in right side hitters Rayleen Rivera (Bishop Amat) and Shawna Ogata (Kauia, Hawaii), and defensive specialist Delia Gutierrez (Montebello High).

“We have potential to do very well, certainly be a top tier team in our conference,” Post said. “We have depth in our hitters and middles. Having Kendra and Angela back with us immediately made us stronger. It will be exciting to see what we can accomplish. Since I’ve been a part of the program, I’ve seen the highs and the lows and that will help me as a coach.”

Post added Hugo Ayala as her top assistant for the ’15 season. The schedule begins Wednesday, Sept. 2 when the Lancers host Mt. San Jacinto in a 6 p.m. match at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. PCC opens South Coast play on Friday, Oct. 2 at Los Angeles Trade Tech.

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