In their most impressive win of the season, the Cerritos College volleyball team posted a 25-17, 17-25, 25-19, 25-11 South Coast Conference win over visiting Mt. San Antonio College on Friday night. The victory was the second in a row for the Falcons (5-6, 2-1), who will now travel to East Los Angeles College for a 6:00 p.m. match next Wednesday. Earlier in the week, the team defeated Pasadena City College for the first time since 2006, while the win over Mt. SAC was their first since 2009.

Trailing 7-3 in the first set, the Falcons scored five straight points to take a lead they would not relinquish. A pair of kills by sophomore Jasmynne Roberts (Long Beach Poly HS) and a service ace from freshman Natalie Caravantes (Baldwin Park HS) aided the team in their comeback. Roberts accounted for five kills in the first set, while sophomore Sara Hickman (La Mirada HS) added four kills.

It would be that same duo guiding the offensive attack on the night. After the Mounties won the second set, Cerritos briefly surrendered the lead in the third set, 14-13, but then scored points in bunches, resulting in a large lead they would not relinquish. Five different players registered at least one kill down the stretch, with Hickman finishing the set with her fourth of the set.

Mt. San Antonio was reeling after the third set and fell behind early (14-2) and never recovered, as Cerritos posted a lopsided win to close out the match. On the night, Roberts powered down 18 kills, along with a team-high 20 digs, while Hickman contributed nine kills and 15 digs. Sophomore setter Michelle Barba (Downey HS) took over the primary duties after the second set and finished with a season-high 32 assists, while also adding seven digs, five service aces and three kills.

Sophomore Lisa Villarroel (Long Beach Millikan HS/LBCC) effectively posted seven kills and four blocks, while sophomore Laura Bogarin (Firebaugh HS) recorded a season-high four blocks and added three kills. Sophomore Jasmin Mitchell (Warren HS) finished with five kills, while freshman libero Jasmine Peralta (Lakewood HS) had 13 digs in the back row.

Photos by Daryl Peterson