Through the first two weeks of the season, the Cerritos College volleyball team is still looking for the right combination for a victory. On Friday, the Falcons (0-4) dropped matches to Saddleback College (12-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20) and Southwestern College (22-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-21) at the San Bernardinal Valley Tournament. The team will travel to Santa Ana College for a 6:00 p.m. match next Wednesday night.

In the loss to the Bobcats, the Falcons rebounded from a slow first set and escaped the second set with a win. Continuing to play competitively, Cerritos was unable to counter Saddleback and slow down their momentum, as they recorded 25-20 wins in the next two sets. Freshman Kaydence Portillo (Bell Gardens HS) led the team with 12 kills, while freshman Aiyana Sierra (La Mirada HS) added 10 kills. Cerritos played well in the back row and extended rallies, as sophomore Breanna Lizarraga (Paramount HS) led the team with 22 digs, with sophomore Abby Gutierrez (Downey HS) recording 18 digs to go with her nine kills. Sophomore setter Carissa Mendibles (Downey HS) directed the offense with 39 assists.

Struggles at the net helped the Jaquars come away with the win in the second match, which offset the performance from Gutierrez, who had 11 kills and 12 digs. Mendibles was forced out of the match with an injury early in the third set and ended the day with 13 assists, seven digs and a pair of kills. Freshman Isabella Carrasco (Downey HS) stepped in and recorded 23 assists, along with 11 digs, while Sierra (nine kills) and Portillo (eight kills) both provided more offense.