Tough Start for Women’s Volleyball

Due to a rough beginning and a schedule quirk, it will be a long while before the Pasadena City College women’s volleyball team wins its first match in 2014. The Lancers opened the season with three losses over two days in matches against Pacific Coast Athletic Conference teams.

PCC won’t play again until September 26-27 when it participates in the Pierce Invitational Tournament.

The Lancers opened the ’14 season by being swept by host Mt. San Jacinto, 25-16, 25-23, 25-20, on  August 29. On August 30, PCC played a pair of matches at the Grossmont Quad Tournament. PCC played it close but were swept by Palomar, 25-18, 27-25, 25-23, then were hammered by last year’s CCCAA state runner-up Grossmont also in three sets, 25-5, 25-14, 25-21.

In the season opener, first-year outside hitter Carmina Ortiz notched six kills, freshman middle hitter Lahiz Longobardi totaled five kills and 17 digs, and frosh right side hitter Hailey Abdul-Malik recorded four kills and served three aces.

In the Palomar defeat, outside hitter/right side Michelle Boyd, a freshman (pictured), scored 11 kills and added seven digs. Sophomore transfer libero Sabrina Takeuchi had 17 digs and sophomore transfer setter Megan Williams totaled 26 assists. Frosh middle blocker Chy’annae Hodges delivered three solo blocks.

Against Grossmont, Takeuchi tallied 11 digs and two aces.