Women’s Indoor Volleyball Preview: Tigers Look to Break Six Year Playoff Draught
Head Coach Clara Lowden enters into her second year at the helm of the Riverside City College women's indoor volleyball team after returning to the squad last year following a significant absence from the coaching world. There were growing pains and a season that ended with an overall record that finished with a mere seven wins; three in conference play. However, a reshape and rebuild has been underway since last Fall as she has put together a competitive roster that will square off against a strong Orange Empire Conference (OEC) schedule mixed with quality non-conference challengers.
Riverside begins their season this Friday as they hit the road to face off against LA Pierce followed by their home opener on Wednesday, August 31 against Inland Empire foe Chaffey. They continue on the next week by participating in the Mt. San Jacinto Classic, backed by a pair of non-conference competitors in San Bernardino Valley and Southwestern.
From then on, it is conference action despite a pair of non-conference games featuring College of the Desert and Mt. San Antonio. While the 2022 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Championships were dominated by the North, the South boasts strong teams; especially in conference. At season's end, the conference boasted five top-25 teams featuring No. 5 Cypress, No. 18 Irvine Valley, No. 20 Orange Coast, No. 21 Golden West and No. 22 Fullerton.
"We are trying not to focus on the entire journey and just take the season one game at a time," said Lowden. "We will focus on what we need to do to meet our overall goals which is to reach the playoffs."
In order to hang with the best of the best, the Tigers will rely on a strong group of returns that saw significant time on the court last season. They welcome back six returners highlighted by sophomore outside hitter Maggie Aburto.
Aburto was by far the most dynamic weapon on last year's roster that featured all but four freshmen. In 20 matches, she recorded a team high 222 kills which ranked seventh overall in conference. She also led her team with 244.5 total points, 3.6 points-per-set, 3.31 kills-per-set and 599 total attempts despite missing four matches. She recorded double-digit kills in 12 matches highlighted by 23 kills in a five-set thriller against Fullerton. She hammered home at least four kills in every match.
Not only was she valuable on the offensive front, but she was a reliable source of consistent defense. She ranked second on the team with 148 digs with six double-digit dig matches. She tallied 19 digs in a four-set match against Saddleback and 17 digs in a five-set match against Santa Ana.
"She basically carried the team last year," said Lowden. "This year, we have a stronger support staff. She doesn't need to carry that weight and she will have the ability to just play."
Complimenting Aburto on the opposite end is sophomore outside hitter Jessica Lepe. Lepe ranked second on the team with 146 attempts in 23 matches. She was the most consistent player by seeing time in a team-high 79 sets. She strung together six double-digit kill games featuring a pair of 14 kills matches. She recorded a kill in each contest she played. She was the most viable option on the back line as well as she paced her squad with 182 digs which ranked in the top 20 in the conference.
The gears to the offense returns in the form of sophomore setter Chloe Christelman. Despite splitting time last season, Christelman is expected to take over the role after lofting up a team-high 314 assists in 23 matches played. She recorded a team-high 4.30 assists-per-set while contributing 1.71 digs-per-set. She came on strong in the final five matches of the season recording over 20 assists in four of the five matches, totaling 117 assists. She recorded 13 double-digit assist matches as well.
Sophomore libero Mya Castro returns after ranking second on the team with 167 digs and first overall in 2.65 digs-per-set. Sophomore middle blocker Kayla Brown will return after notching 20 kills and eight blocks.
"They are leaders now," said Lowden when asked about the returning Tigers. "The expectation of them to be better is there. Now they need to lead the team through the tough spots by being positive and working the hardest."
The returners will be jined by 10 newcomers highlighted by freshman outside hitter Nina Peay and freshman setter Audrey Elias.
"I am expecting Peay to be a top freshman. She has a great attitude in that she doesn't have the pressure of performing, but even if she did it wouldn't affect her. Audrey, a new setter, gives us the option to run new sets with her ability to let her teammates run around her and feel more free."
At season's end, Lowden hopes the playoff draught ends and they are not on the outside looking in.
"It's a roster where we can create more opportunities to score both outside and inside. We are looking for this program to take the next step up, keep growing and make each year better than the last."