Tigers Volleyballers Sweep Saddleback, 3-0, by the set scores of 25-9, 25-22, 25-16

RIVERSIDE -- Sweeping a three-set match for only the second time all season, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's volleyball squad won, 3-0, over the visiting Saddleback College (SC) Gauchos Friday evening (Oct. 10) in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) match at RCC's legendary Arthur N. Wheelock Gymnasium.

Riverside (5-7, 2-1 OEC) won by the set scores of 25-9, 25-22, 25-16, over Saddleback (2-6, 0-3 OEC). In the all-time series, RCC leads, 38-26.

In the first set, the Tigers raced to leads of 2-0, 3-1, and 5-3, before extending their advantage to 9-3 and 14-4. RCC frosh middle blocker Ashley Tamas (Riverside / Poly '11) had four kills in the opening stanza to get the Tigers going.

The second set featured five tie scores and four lead changes. RCC led, 16-9, before the Gauchos forged ties at 21 and 22, before the Tigers posted the next three points for a 25-22 win. RCC sophomore right-side hitter Alexandra Webster (Temecula / Temecula Prep '13) had a block solo and two block assists. 

In the third set, RCC jumped out to leads of 12-6 and 21-13 before eventually winning, 25-16.

Webster led RCC with eight kills and six total blocks (one block solo), while Tamas added seven kills. Sophomore setter Sarah Kelly (Riverside / John W. North '13) led the Tigers with 12 assists and added seven digs. Sophomore outside hitter Naomi Tilford (Vista / Vista '11 / San Diego Mesa CC) had a team-high nine digs.

For Saddleback, sophomore outside hitter Kaylee Douglass led the Gauchos with a match-high nine kills, while frosh outside hitter Ta'lor Crandall (Mission Viejo HS) added eight kills. Sophomore setter Hitomi Fujikura (Irvine HS) had a match-high 22 assists and sophomore libero Kimie Taketa (West Torrance HS) added a match-high ten digs.

With the win, the Tigers will host the Cypress College Chargers on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m.

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