East Los Angeles College sophomore middle hitter Kayla Dickerson attempts a kill in a 3-2 win against Pasadena City College, Oct. 3, 2018. (Photo by Tadzio Garcia)
East Los Angeles College sophomore middle hitter Kayla Dickerson attempts a kill in a 3-2 win against Pasadena City College, Oct. 3, 2018. (Photo by Tadzio Garcia)
Posted: Oct 03, 2018

It took five years—Huskies defeat Pasadena City

PASADENA, CA — The East Los Angeles College women’s volleyball team began the South Coast Conference North Division with a 3-2 (25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 15-25, 15-12) win against rival Pasadena City College.

The Huskies defeated the defending SCC North champions for the first time since November 5, 2015 in front of a vocal crowd of almost 200.

The Huskies pull even with a 7-7 record overall and 1-0 in conference play. Pasadena (5-9, 0-1) and ELAC played tough schedules entering SCC play. Pasadena played five Top-25 state ranked teams while ELAC met four.

“It was a tough conference match with a good young (ELAC) team working together to carry them through the competition,” said ELAC volleyball head coach Elliott Walker. “It was their team comradery that gave them the ability to win.”

Rio Hondo (4-9, 1-0) shut out Mt. San Antonio College (6-9, 0-1) 3-0 tonight. Chaffey (10-4) had a bye. It was the first Roadrunner win over Mt. SAC since they joined the conference three years ago.

“Our SCC journey began with a big win in a conference of all the teams being equally balanced, so you should see a lot of close games,” said Walker. “I believe every team is in contention for the (SCC North) title including ELAC.”

Both teams had balanced attacks overall. Defense at the net and key kills provided the difference for the Huskies in their win tonight.

SET 1: The Huskies raced to a 3-0 lead and increased it to 9-5 culminating with a kill by middle hitter Daija Walton (assist Rachel Cruz). The Huskies communication on the court paid off with an increased eight-point lead, 20-12, on a double block by middle hitter Kayla Dickerson (Bell Gardens HS) and outside hitter Ryley Rhamy (California HS).

ELAC won the set 25-20 hitting a .360 clip. The defense limited the Lancers to .143 hitting. Walton led the offense with four kills and a service ace. Right side hitter Cruz (Garfield HS) had two service aces and a kill. Dickerson led the defense with a block and two double blocks.

SET 2: The teams were separated by two points after 28 were scored with Pasadena holding a 15-13 edge. Pasadena increased its lead to 23-15 with an 8-2 rally then closed the door on the set winning 25-16. Pasadena out hit the Huskies .231 to .034 but ELAC had more kills, 10-9.

Set 3: An even battle from the start in this set turned into a 10-7 lead for the Huskies on a kill by outside hitter Arianna Gomez (California HS). ELAC jumped ahead 23-16 and shut down a Pasadena rally when setter Samantha Villareal blasted a kill (assist Quintero) on set point.

ELAC won the third set 25-20. Walton led the Huskies with five crowd pleasing kills. She served an ace and had a double block with right setter Jimena Gonzalez Robles (Lynwood HS). Dickerson and Quintero hit four kills each. The Huskies outhit the Lancers .429 to .231.

SET 4: The fourth set was even through the first 20 points deadlocked at 10-all. It was all Pasadena after that with a 15-5 rally for a 25-15 set win. The Lancers outhit ELAC with a clip of .438 to .000. ELAC had more turnovers 7-1.

SET 5: ELAC took a 3-1 lead on kills by Dickerson (assist by Villareal) and Gomez (assist by Quintero). A total of seven lead changes and seven ties consumed the set with the crowd cranking up deafening sounds. ELAC broke a 10-all tie with two kills from Walton and Dickerson each assisted by Cruz.

Pasadena was down 14-11 and the ELAC faithful drowning out the noise and staved off match point with a kill by outside hitter Camille Ferguson (assist by setter Tehya Topalian). The Lancers followed with an attack error attempting a sideline kill that was out and it was game set and match for the Huskies. ELAC hit a .318 clip and held Pasadena to .167.

PAW TRACKS: ELAC jammed 51 kills with Walton and Dickerson each hitting a game-high 15. Cruz came through with a game-high 20 assists. Gomez hit a team-high three service aces. Defensive Specialist / Libero Victoria Trejo-Garcia (Downey HS) had a team-high 12 digs.

UP NEXT: The Huskies meet the Cal Lutheran JV volleyball team, Friday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Thousand Oaks. The Lady Regals hold a 5-2 edge in matches during the six-year rivalry.

Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index and ELAC Huskies Athletics on Facebook.

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia