Tigers Post Initial Win of Season, Split Pair at Own Quadrangular Tournament Friday

RIVERSIDE – Gaining a split of its pair of afternoon matches, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's volleyball team also posted its first victory of the season in the process.

Riverside (1-3 overall) won its opening match of the day, 3-0, over the Cerro Coso College (CCC) Coyotes by the set scores of 25-18, 25-19, 25-18. RCC then lost to its Riverside County rivals, the Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) Eagles, 0-3, by the set scores of 21-25, 15-25, 17-25.

MSJC (6-1 overall) opened the day with a 3-0 win over the Mt. San Antonio College (MSAC) Mounties by the set scores of 25-22, 25-19, 25-14. MSAC (4-1 overall) blanked Cerro Coso (0-4 overall) in the final match by the set scores of 25-23, 25-19, 25-19.

In its victory over Cerro Coso, RCC was led by frosh middle blocker Ashley Tamas (Riverside / Poly '11) with seven kills. Frosh setter Melissa Moe (Riverside / Poly '14) and sophomore setter Sarah Kelly (Riverside / John W. North '13) each had 15 assists for the Tigers.

In the first set there six tie scores and four lead changes before RCC prevailed. In the third set, there were nine tie scores and six lead changes.

Cerro Coso was led by sophomore outside hitter Ashley Sherrick with a match-high 13 kills, frosh setter Emma Cleveland had a match-high 21 assists, and frosh OH Talia Forsythe had a match-high seven digs.

In their loss to MSJC, the Tigers were led by Tamas and sophomore middle blocker Sheyenne Reyes (Riverside / John W. North '09 / MSJC) with seven kills each. Moe had 13 assists and three service aces to lead RCC. Frosh defensive specialist/libero Kristen Garcia-Simental (Riverside / La Sierra '12) had a match-high six digs.

Against MSJC, the Tigers trailed from the start in the first and third sets, but in the middle, RCC led, 5-0, before the Eagles regrouped to take a 13-11 lead and were never headed.

MSJC was led by sophomore right-side hitter Taylor Kushner with a match-high 14 kills and sophomore setter Alissya Theis had a match-high 24 assists and four service aces. Sophomore libero Sam Salcido had a team-high five digs.

Riverside will be idle until next Wednesday, Sept. 17, when it visits the College of the Canyons Cougars in a 5 p.m. nonconference match.

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