Tigers Top Santa Ana, 3-0, in Orange Empire Conference Finale; RCC Awaits Call to Playoffs

RIVERSIDE -- Concluding its regular season, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers Women's Volleyball team defeated the unranked Santa Ana College (SAC) Dons, 3-0, in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) match Wednesday night (Nov. 18), by the set scores of 25-16, 25-13, 25-7, at Katharine Huntley Gymnasium.

Riverside (15-7 overall, 8-6 OEC), currently ranked No. 21 in the latest (Nov. 16) California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association (CCCWVCA) poll received a good battle in the first set from the visiting Dons, before RCC's depth limited SAC's chances.

RCC never trailed in the match.

In the first set, the Tigers led, 3-0, and built leads of 9-4, 17-9 and 20-17. Sophomore OH Amanda Barker (Lake Arrowhead / Rim of the World HS '14) hammered home five of her nine kills to secure the set victory for RCC.

In the second set, Riverside led, 5-0, 11-6, 15-7, and 23-9. Sophomore MB Gabrielle Dahle (Riverside / Martin Luther King, Jr. HS '14) put down one of her four kills as RCC won, 25-13.

The third set saw RCC lead, 2-0, 5-1, 7-2, 9-5, and then reel off seven straight points to lead 16-5. Frosh opposite hitter Briana Fonseca (Desert Hot Springs HS '15) knocked down her second of two kills to gain the set and the match for RCC, 25-7.

Frosh outside hitter Lauren Wells (Riverside / Woodcrest Christian HS '15) and frosh middle blocker Nyomi Ward (Moreno Valley / Rancho Verde HS '14) each had a co-match-high ten kills  for RCC. Wells had a match-high 11 digs.

Barker added nine kills and RCC sophomore setter Melissa Moe (Riverside / Poly HS '14) had a match-high 31 assists.

For Santa Ana (1-20 overall, 0-14 OEC), sophomore OH Chloe Anderson (Irvine HS) led the Dons with a co-match-high ten kills. Frosh setter Haylie Slater (Valencia HS) had 17 set assists and sophomore OH Madison Logan (Centennial HS) had a team-high seven digs.

In the next few days, RCC will learn its regional playoff fate. The Tigers are ranked No. 13 in the Southland and expect to open California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) postseason action on the road Tuesday, Nov. 24. Additionally, the annual meeting of OEC coaches where the all-OEC team will be determined is scheduled to take place by the end of the week.

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Editor's note: Through 22 matches (76 sets), Wells continues to lead Riverside in kills (232, 72 sets, 3.22 avg.) by a wide margin and is second in digs (199, 2.76 avg.). Ward is second in Kills (143, 70 sets, 2.04 avg.) Frosh OH Marissa Vialpando (Moreno Valley / Riverside - Notre Dame HS '15) is third in kills (135, 67 sets, 2.01) and frosh MB Lauren Reed (Redlands / Redlands HS '09 / Cal Baptist U. '15), who did not play Wednesday against Santa Ana, is fourth in kills (119, 43 sets, 2.77).

Moe leads the Tigers in assists (705, 76 sets, 9.3 avg.), is first in service aces (42, 0.55 avg.) and is third in digs (193, 2.54 avg.). Frosh libero Sabrina Gonzaga (Moreno Valley / Citrus Hill HS '14) leads in digs (270, 71 sets, 3.80 avg.) and is second in service aces (31, 0.44 avg.). Ward leads the Tigers in total blocks (43, 20 solo, 0.74 avg.).

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