After placing second in their pool on Friday, the Cerritos College volleyball team was defeated by MiraCosta College in the quarterfinals on Saturday in three sets. The Falcons (5-4), who served as hosts of the tournament, were defeated, 25-19, 25-17, 25-18 against the Spartans (10-1). On Wednesday, the team will travel to Riverside City College for a 5:00 p.m. non-conference match.

Facing a team with more height, Cerritos remained competitive in the first set and were trailing just 14-13 until the Spartans ran off four straight points to open a five-point lead they would not relinquish. The Falcons got as close as 20-18 after a Monica Vega (South Gate HS) service ace and a block. MiraCosta went on to win the set with two service aces for their final points.

The Falcons surrendered the first five points to start the second set, but pulled to within 8-7 after a pair of attack errors from the Spartans and a Vega kill. It would be as close as Cerritos would get after surrendering eight straight points and trailed, 16-7. But the Falcons didn't fade away and put together a couple of runs that put them within three points, with the closest at 19-16. The team trailed early in the third set and didn't have enough to come back against MiraCosta.

Sophomore Rocio Rojo-Perez (Bellflower HS) led the team with eight kills off the bench, while sophomore Jasmine McNeal (Long Beach Poly HS) posted six kills and four blocking assists. Vega concluded the match with five kills and a team-high 10 digs, while sophomore setter Lorinet Marquez (Cerritos HS/Providence College) accounted for 22 assists an five digs.

Photos by Daryl Peterson