Posted: Sep 06, 2023
With a chance to match their fastest start since the 2015 season (5-0), the Cerritos College volleyball team improved to 4-0 on the year with a 25-9, 25-22, 25-15 sweep of the California Lutheran University JV team on Wednesday night. The Falcons, who have not dropped a set all season, with host San Bernardino Valley College (4-3) at 5:00 p.m. on Friday.
It was a quick first set by Cerritos, as they opened a 6-0 lead and never looked back. They hit at a .345 percentage compared to -.217 for the Regals and received five kills in as many attempts from freshman Jasmine Soto-Castro (Schurr HS), who also added six assists.
The Falcons looked to their bench in the second set and after surrendering the first point, went on a run and led, 10-3. Although they never lost the lead, Cerritos did see the Regals pick up their skill in the set and pulled to within a point at 18-17 and 22-21. After an attack error and kill from freshman Brisa Cortez (Schurr HS), Cerritos led, 21-17. Leading 22-21, a pair of attack errors drew the Falcons to within a point of winning the set. Sophomore Jayda Harris-Amete (La Mirada HS) closed out the set with her fifth kill of the match and gave Cerritos a commanding 2-0 lead in sets.
Points in bunches allowed the Falcons to move closer to the win, with three straight Cal Lutheran attack errors putting the team in front, 19-10. Continuing to play a versatile role with the team. Soto-Castro ended the match with her team-leading ninth kill.
Along with her nine kills, Soto-Castro added 11 assists and five digs, with sophomore Kaydence Portillo (Bell Gardens HS) recording eight kills in 12 attempts with no errors and a pair of block assists. Harris-Amete finished with six kills and eight digs, while freshman setter Leeya Rubio (Schurr HS) led the team with 14 assists and four services aces. Freshman libero Priscilla Castillo (Schurr HS) finished with 26 digs and three assists, while sophomores Kira Magdaleno (Artesia HS) and Erykah Scott (Bellflower HS) combined for nine kills in the win. Freshman setter Giovanna Gomez (Bellflower HS) came off the bench to dish out seven assists, with all 16 players seeing action.
Photos by Daryl Peterson
Photos by Daryl Peterson
