PC volleyball sweeps Cuesta

One point demonstrated how far the Porterville College volleyball team has come already in just its opening match of the season.

PC was clinging to a 24-23 lead in game two when Cuesta’s defense was set up just right for a quick hit. Pirate setter Stephanie Dounseroux set up the quick hit for Allison Clem, who put down the kill on game point. It was that kind of play throughout that led to the Pirates sweeping Cuesta 25-19, 25-23, 25-19 on Wednesday at PC.

“That’s what we called,” said PC coach Dale Henderson about the decisive game two point.

It was an impressive display for PC, which piled up 39 kills in just the three games off of Dounseroux’s 35 assists and Tori Davis’ four assists. “That was good,” Henderson said.

But Henderson expects his team to continue to become better and said it will become better. “I’m a perfectionist. I thought it was a little sloppy myself,” said Henderson about the opening match. “But it is the first game.”

And Henderson noted with the exception of Dounseroux returning at setter, PC has all new players in every other position this season.

But PC still got off to a quick start in game one, going on a 12-1 run to take a 17-6 lead. Amanda Monge served for seven straight points to complete the run, picking up three kills and an ace in the process.

Cuesta was able to close to within 19-15, but Monge’s kill and block gave PC a 23-16 lead. After Cuesta closed to within 23-19, Danielle Carrillo had a kill and then Kacey Markarian had a kill on game point for the Pirates.

PC trailed early in game two with Jessica Yocum’s back row kill pulling PC to within 9-7. The Pirates trailed 11-8 when it then gradually took control with Markarian’s dink giving Porterville a 22-16 lead.

But Cuesta went on a 6-0 run to tie the score 22-22. Carrillo’s back row kill gave PC a 23-22 lead before Cuesta tied the score 23-23. But PC scored the last two points with Clem’s quick hit putting the game away.

Porterville took control in game three after trailing 16-15 when Davis had three kills to ignite an 8-0 run to give PC a 23-16 lead. Markarian served for the final seven points in the run and went on to have a kill on match point.

Monge had 13 kills, three blocks, five digs and was 8-of-9 serving with one ace, Davis had eight kills and three digs, Markarian had six kills, seven digs and was 15-of-15 serving with two aces, Clem had 11 kills, two blocks and nine digs and Dounseroux was 12-of-13 serving.

PC Note: Laura Jaggers, a returning player from last season, is redshirting for Porterville.