Volleyball: Falcons extend undefeated Golden West before falling

File Photo: Sierra Hernandez-Hardy had 12 kills against Golden West
File Photo: Sierra Hernandez-Hardy had 12 kills against Golden West

Facing undefeated Golden West College in their final non-conference match, the Cerritos College volleyball team suffered a four-set defeat, 15-25, 28-26, 13-25, 23-25. The Falcons (4-3), who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end, will open South Coast Conference play next Wednesday when they host East Los Angeles College in a 6:00 p.m. match.

Cerritos played the match without freshman starter Cameron Puente (Mayfair HS), while sophomore starter Alexia Torres (Downey HS) did not play in the first set. The the addition of Torres in the lineup in the second set, the Falcons were able to pull out a 28-26 decision. A troublesome third set was followed by another nail-biter, with the Rustlers avoiding a fifth set by escaping with a 25-23 decision.

Despite missing the first set, Torres did share the team lead in kills at 12 with sophomore Sierra Hernandez-Hardy (Bishop Amat HS), who had a solid night. Sophomore setter Mirka Granoble (Downey HS) also had a busy night with 38 assists, while also adding six kills and seven digs. Stepping in to see extended action, freshman Gladys Garcia (Elizabeth Learning Center HS) contributed four kills and a team-high 11 digs, while freshman Jackie Dixon (Gahr HS) added five kills.