No. 25 Tigers Sweep Host San Bernardino, 3-0; Libero Sabrina Gonzaga Ties RCC Three-set Match Record With Ten Service Aces

SAN BERNARDINO -- Winning its third straight match and seventh of eight to open the season, the visiting Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers Women's Volleyball team swept the host San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines, 3-0, Tuesday (Sept. 29), by the set scores of 25-16, 25-6, 25-17.

Riverside (7-1 overall) is ranked No. 25 in the state in the latest (Sept. 28) California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association (CCCWVCA) poll.

RCC had leads of 3-1, 7-3, 11-4, and 18-10 in the first set after SBVC led, 1-0. Sophomore middle blocker Gabrielle Dahle (Riverside / Martin Luther King, Jr. HS '14) and frosh middle blocker Lauren Reed (Redlands / Redlands HS / Cal Baptist U. '15) each had three kills to pace RCC as it won, 25-16.

In the second set, RCC trailed, 0-1, before posting leads of 5-1, 9-4, and 10-5. With frosh libero Sabrina Gonzaga (Moreno Valley / Citrus Hill HS '14) at the service line, the Tigers then scored the next 14 points for a 24-5 advantage. Along the way, Gonzaga had seven, count 'em, seven service aces before the Tigers won, 25-6.

In the third set, RCC broke a 17-17 tie, and closed out the set and match by scoring the next eight points for a 25-17 win. Along the way, Gonzaga had three service aces.

For RCC, Gonzaga tied a RCC three-set match record with her ten service aces. She also led the Tigers with nine digs. Frosh outside hitter Lauren Wells (Corona / Woodcrest Christian HS '15) co-led a balanced RCC attack with seven kills, as did Reed. RCC sophomore setter Melissa Moe (Riverside / Poly HS '14) had a match-high 19 assists.

SBVC (3-9 overall) was led by frosh middle blocker Ariana Cole (Fontana / A.B. Miller HS) with five kills. Frosh setter Nayeli Hernandez (San Bernardino / Aquinas HS) had a team-high ten assists and frosh libero Valerie Navarrete (Fontana / A.B. Miller HS) had a match-high ten digs.

At 7-1, the Tigers are off to their best start since 2010 when they won their first eight matches and were 11-1 heading into Orange Empire Conference (OEC) action.

Riverside's next match will be on Friday, Oct. 2, when it visits the No. 24-ranked Golden West College Rustlers to open Orange Empire Conference (OEC) action at 6 p.m.

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