Tiger Spikers Top Golden West, 3-1, Wednesday for First Win of Season Against a Ranked Opponent

RIVERSIDE -- Playing its best match of the season against a ranked opponent from the start, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers Women's Volleyball team defeated the No. 19-ranked Golden West College (GWC) Rustlers in four sets, 3-1, in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) match Wednesday night (Oct. 28), by the set scores of 25-23, 25-19, 14-25, 25-21, at legendary Arthur N. Wheelock Gymnasium.

The win snapped a nine-match RCC losing streak to GWC. Prior to Wednesday night, Riverside last defeated the Rustlers, 3-0, in an OEC match at RCC on Nov. 3, 2010. Nevertheless, GWC holds a solid lead in the all-time series, 52-4.

Riverside (11-5 overall, 4-4 OEC), currently ranked No. 24 in the latest (Oct. 26) California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association (CCCWVCA) poll, was solid throughout.

In the first set, the Tigers trailed, 9-6, before scoring six straight points for a 12-9 lead. GWC closed to within 21-20 before RCC frosh middle blocker Nyomi Ward (Moreno Valley / Rancho Verde HS '14) -- who is pictured -- sandwiched a pair of kills around the Rustlers' 23rd point as RCC won, 25-23.

In the second set, RCC trailed, 14-11, and then had another six-point splurge to lead 17-14 before securing the 25-19 win.

The third set saw the Tigers fall behind, 5-2, and never recover. GWC frosh opposite hitter Cassidy Paperny (Culver City HS) had two kills off of RCC overpasses late and sophomore outside hitter Marina Adolpho (Waikane, HI / Moanalua HS / Chandler-Gilbert (AZ) CC) had a pair of kills for the last two points as the Rustlers won, 25-14.

In the fourth set, RCC snapped a 14-14 tie and led, 18-14. Down the stretch, RCC frosh middle blocker Lauren Reed (Redlands / Redlands HS / Cal Baptist '15) logged kills for points 21, 22 and 24 and Ward's kill clinched the set (at 25-21) and the match.

Ward led the Tigers with a match-high 17 kills, while Reed added 13 kills and frosh outside hitter Lauren Wells (Riverside / Woodcrest Christian HS '15) added 12 kills and 12 digs.

RCC sophomore setter Melissa Moe (Riverside / Poly HS '14) had a match-high 44 assists and added a co-match-high 15 digs, and frosh libero Sabrina Gonzaga (Perris / Citrus Hill HS '14) had 11 digs.

For GWC (9-7 overall, 5-3 in OEC), Adolpho led the Rustlers with 16 kills and 15 digs. Paperny added 14 kills and frosh setter Kate Stanjevich (Long Beach / Millikan HS) dished out a team-high 32 assists and frosh libero Kelsey Osgood (Long Beach / Los Alamitos HS) brought up 14 digs.

Both teams will continue OEC action on Friday, Oct. 30. GWC will host the Irvine Valley Lasers and Riverside will host the Fullerton College Hornets in a pair of 6 p.m. matches.

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Editor's note: Through 16 matches (56 sets), Wells continues to lead Riverside in kills (169) by a wide margin. Reed is next in kills (108, 37 sets). Moe leads the Tigers in assists (512, 56 sets), is first in service aces (30) and is second in digs (145). Gonzaga leads in digs (200, 53 sets) and is second in service aces (28). Ward leads the Tigers in total blocks (47, 16 solo).

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