SANTA MONICA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Women's Volleyball team fell at Santa Monica College Wednesday night, 3 sets to 2. It was the Vaqueros' third 5-setter in their last four matches, all within the last week.
"We are improving as a team, we just haven't yet figured out how hard you have to work in collegiate volleyball every single point," head coach Kat Niksto said.
In the first set, the Vaqueros found themselves up big early, 7-1. Both teams treaded water from there, and the score was 15-11 before SBCC went on a 4-0 run to make it 19-11. They cruised to a first set win from there, 25-19.
The second set flowed in the opposite direction, with Santa Monica taking commanding leads early at 2-8 and then 4-14. The Vaqueros fervently fought their way back to 17-21 before Santa Monica won the last four points and the set, 17-25.
Set three was as competitive as it gets, as both teams looked to take a 2 set to 1 lead. After being down 3-9, the Vaqueros managed to tie the score at 18-all and capped off four points in a row to take a 19-18 lead. Then, both teams traded points, with ties at 19-all, 20-all, and 21-all. Santa Monica finally pulled away, winning the set 22-25.
The fourth set was a steady victory for the Vaqueros, who led in its entirety besides a short deficit early at 2-3. SBCC won the set comfortably, 25-15. This was the third time in the last week the Vaqueros found themselves down 2 sets to 1—they forced a decisive fifth set all three times, outscoring their opponents handedly 75-48.
Set five began as another thriller, and both teams almost traded off consecutive points from 0-0 all the way to 6-6. However, each team began to show some fatigue. Five out of the next six points were won (or lost) by attack errors, and a few points later, the Vaqueros had an 11-9 lead. Unfortunately, Santa Monica would win six of the next seven points, winning the set 12-15.
"It's not enough to be good for stretches at a time and then take a break," Niksto said, "you really have to put in the work for a complete match to come away with the win. We are getting there though."
Highlighting strong individual performances, Niksto offered, "Gabby Russell (at Libero) had a phenomenal night serve receive passing and on defense. Kira Little took a bunch of big swings for us on the left and passed really well, as well. And Natalie Lercari-Sullivan did a great job running the offense."
Gabby Russell continues to be a stalwart defender, recording 20+ digs after having 14 and 26 the past two matches. Santa Barbara statkeepers had Russell with as many as a season-high 28 digs.
Kira Little led the team in kills with 11 while totaling 7 digs. Nevaeh Tillet also had a strong, well-rounded match, finishing second on the team in kills with 9 and second in digs with 13.
Natalie Lercari-Sullivan and Sophie Ward continue to set up their teammates well with 19 and 13 assists, respectively. Both also were strong defensively, with 17 digs listed between the pair, but the true number might be more around 20.
The Vaqueros have shown a lot of fourth-set fight recently, but are still hoping to find that spark over a stretch of matches. SBCC came into Wednesday's match on a two-game win streak, having found some momentum after an early season lull.
Santa Barbara hopes to turn the page and regain some momentum this Friday at home against Bakersfield at 6:00 PM.
