Playing a best-of-three format in their pool play, the Cerritos College volleyball team won two of their three matches, but were defeated in a one-game playoff format at the San Diego City Tournament on Saturday. The Falcons now open South Coast Conference play on Friday at 6:00 p.m. when they travel to El Camino College.

In the pool play, which does not count toward the team's overall record, Cerritos defeated Cuyamaca College (25-10, 25-11) and Rio Hondo College (25-15, 25-17), while they dropped a 17-25, 25-22, 15-17 decision to Reedley College. In the one-game playoff format, the Falcons were defeated by Chandler (AZ) CC, 27-29.

In the win over Cuyamaca, the duo of sophomores Sara Hickman (La Mirada HS) and Lisa Villarroel (Long Beach Millikan HS/LBCC) each collected seven kills, while sophomore Jasmynne Roberts (Long Beach Poly HS) had six kills. Villarroel, who also had three blocks, posted all of her kills on seven attempts. Sophomore setter Michelle Barba (Downey HS) dished out 14 assists, with freshman Jasmine Peralta (Lakewood HS) helping the team with five service aces.

Roberts accounted for 15 kills and 11 digs in the loss to Reedley, while Hickman contributed 11 kills and 11 digs. The two were the offensive spark for the Falcons, with Villarroel adding four kills. Barba (21 assists) and freshman Natalie Caravantes (Montebello HS), who had eight assists, directed the offense, with Peralta (13 digs) and Hickman (8 digs) working the back row.

Continuing with a hit hand, Roberts had 11 kills and just one attack error in the win over Rio Hondo, with Barba adding four service aces to go with 12 assists and four digs. Hickman (six kills, eight digs), Villarroel (four kills), and Caravantes (nine assists) also played well for the Falcons. The playoff game against Chandler went back and forth until Cerritos could not extend the game and eliminated them from the playoffs. Roberts had six kills in 11 attempts, while Peralta produced 11 digs, while Barba and Caravantes combined for 11 assists.