Although they were swept in three games, the Cerritos College volleyball team gave second place Mt. San Antonio College all they could handle at They Aviary on Friday. The Falcons (5-7, 2-3) were defeated, 20-25, 25-27, 21-25 by the Mounties (10-4, 4-1), but were on the verge of winning all three games. They will look to snap their current two-game losing streak when they travel to Pasadena City College for a 6:00 p.m. South Coast Conference match.

The biggest opportunity for Cerritos pick up a win was in the second game when they were serving with a 24-23 lead. But a service error extended the set until Mt. San Antonio's Marissa Hageman slammed home three straight kills to close out the Falcons. After a slow start in the third set, the team was able to tie the match at 17-17 and then again at 21-21. But Mt. SAC had too many offensive weapons and pulled out the victory.

The team turned to freshman Jasmynne Roberts (Long Beach Poly HS) when they needed a critical point and she responded with a team-high 11 kills. The duo of freshman Amanda Payne (Orange Lutheran HS) and Valerie Montoya (La Mirada HS) combined for 11 kills, but they just could not counter the size of Hageman, as well as Jasmine Patrick and Kalena Lino, who gave the Mounties a triple threat.

Sophomore Ashley Castro (Santa Fe HS) recorded 28 digs in the back row, as the teams put together some exciting rallies. The setting duo of freshman Michelle Barba (Downey HS) and Crissy Silavong (Katella HS) combined for 24 assists, with Barba and Roberts each adding three service aces.

Photos by Daryl Peterson