Tigers Take Third in OEC; Face Bakersfield at MiraCosta May 2 In CCCAA South Regional Playoffs

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- In its second season of existence, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's beach volleyball team has finished in third place in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) after posting a pair of shut-out wins last Friday afternoon (Apr. 21).

Riverside City (9-7 overall, 5-2 OEC) defeated the Orange Coast College (OCC) Pirates, 5-0, and also defeated the Santa Ana College (SAC) Dons, 5-0, last Friday (Apr. 21) at the Newland Courts at Huntington State Beach.

Cypress (14-5-1 overall, 6-1 OEC) and Golden West (12-5 overall, 6-1 OEC) tied for the conference crown. In head-to-head competition, RCC defeated Golden West, Golden West defeated Cypress and Cypress defeated RCC. The Tigers' only other OEC loss was to fourth-place Irvine Valley.

With the twin wins, the Tigers have qualified for the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) South Regional Dual Team Playoffs and will face the Bakersfield College Renegades at MiraCosta College on Tuesday, May 2. Match time to be determined.

In the win over OCC, the Tigers' No. 1 doubles tandem of sophomore Marissa Vialpando -- who is pictured -- and sophomore Lauren Wells won in straights sets, 21-13, 21-19. The RCC duo also defeated the top pair from Santa Ana by the set scores of 21-19, 22-24, 15-9.

RCC is guided by second-year RCC head women's beach volleyball co-associate head coaches Jamie Hofman and Monica Hayes-Trainer.

-30-