Tigers Snap Three-match Losing Streak, Sweep Fullerton, 3-0, Wednesday
RIVERSIDE -- Snapping a three-match losing streak, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers swept the visiting Fullerton College (FC) Hornets, 3-0, by the set scores of 26-24, 25-14, 32-30, in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) match Wednesday evening (Oct. 19) at legendary Arthur N. Wheelock Gymnasium.
Riverside City (12-6 overall, 6-3 in OEC) had been swept in its last three matches, but turned the tables on Fullerton, but it was a bit of a struggle for RCC.
The first set had ten tied scores and four lead changes. Fullerton (3-12 overall, 1-8 OEC) led, 7-3, and 20-17, before RCC came back to lead, 24-22. The Tigers then broke a 24-24 tie and won the set on a kill by sophomore outside hitter Marissa Vialpando (Moreno Valley / Riverside – Notre Dame HS '15) and block assists by sophomore middle hitter Tiarah McDaniel (Compton / Paramount HS '14) and frosh setter MacKenzie Lunney (Corona / Riverspring Charter HS '16).
The second set saw the Tigers lead from the first point. RCC led, 4-0, 8-3, and 11-5, before posting the victory. Vialpando had six kills in the set.
The third set had 12 tied scores and four lead changes. RCC led, 4-0, and 9-4, only to see Fullerton respond to tie the score at 11-11. Riverside forged an 18-14 lead, only to see the Hornets creep to within 19-18. From there, the only non-victorious two-point spread was at 23-21. Tied at 30-30,
Vialpando led the Tigers with 12 kills and sophomore outside hitter Huafa Saulala (Morgan Hill / Live Oak HS '13 / BYU-Hawai'i) chipped in with 11 kils. Lunney had a match-high 41 set assists and frosh libero Paula Romero (Riverside / Riverside Poly HS '14) had a match-high 13 digs.
For Fullerton, sophomore middle blocker Shawnee Longmeyer (Anaheim / Anaheim HS) had a match-high 15 kills and frosh middle blocker Rebecca Hicks (Orange / Villa Park HS) added 12 kills. Sophomore setter Sydney Maldonado (Yorba Linda / Esperanza HS) had 27 assists and a trio of Hornets had 12 digs each.
Both teams return to action on Friday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. when RCC visits the Santa Ana College (SAC) Dons and Fullerton hosts the Orange Coast College Pirates.
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