Pirate volleyball sweeps Taft

The Porterville College volleyball team wasn’t going to let this one slip away.

Porterville looked to be on its way to an easy sweep of Taft College, leading 20-13 in the third game, but the Pirates would eventually be challenged in a big way, but met the challenge to come through with a 25-9, 25-19, 30-28 win on Wednesday at PC.

Both teams came into the match ranked No. 15 in Northern California, but it was the Pirates who gained the upper hand in the race for at least second in the Central Valley Conference and a spot in the state playoffs. PC (8-5) improved to 4-0 in the CVC while Taft fell to 3-1.

And while Porterville is well aware it still has unfinished business, there’s no denying that the Pirates are aiming for a showdown at Fresno City on Oct. 14 for CVC supremacy. “Our goal is to get ready for Fresno,” PC coach Dale Henderson said.

“We’re really looking forward to the Fresno City (match),” said Amanda Monge, who had a big night against Taft with 18 kills, 11 digs, three blocks and was 8-of-10 serving with one ace.

But it didn’t come easy for PC in the end. After Taft closed to within 20-17, it appeared that the Pirates had regained control on kills by Myra Moreno and Tori Davis gave PC a 22-18 lead. But Taft went on a 5-0 run to go up 23-22 before Davis surprised Taft with a two-handed set that land on Taft’s side with nobody home to give the Pirates their first match point and a 24-23 lead.

Monge’s kill gave PC its second match point at 25-24 and another kill by Monge gave Porterville its third match point at 26-25. PC had a fourth match point at 27-26 before Taft went on to gain a match point at 28-27.

But Stephanie Dounseroux saved the day when she surprised Taft with a two-handed set that landed in an open space on Taft’s side to tie the score 28-28. Kills by Allison Clem and Davis then ended it.

PC throttled Taft in game one  with Davis serving for the final final eight points of the game, including three aces.

In game two, PC trailed 18-16, but finished the game with a 9-1 run. Taft couldn’t handle two straight serves by Clem, which set up two straight Moreno dinks, giving PC a 24-19 lead on its way to winning the game.

Davis had 10 kills, one block, three digs and was 20-of-21 serving with seven aces. “Seven aces is phenomenal,” Henderson said.

Clem had nine kills, seven digs and was 10-of-10 serving, Moreno had five kills, Dounseroux had two kills, one block, eight digs, 30 assists and was 15-of-15 serving and Jennifer Landers had nine digs and was 12-of-13 serving with one ace for PC.

“I am happy with them,” Henderson said. “They played a great, complete match. Even though the last game was tight, I can’t complain about anything.”

The Porterville College volleyball team wasn’t going to let this one slip away.

Porterville looked to be on its way to an easy sweep of Taft College, leading 20-13 in the third game, but the Pirates would eventually be challenged in a big way, but met the challenge to come through with a 25-9, 25-19, 30-28 win on Wednesday at PC.

Both teams came into the match ranked No. 15 in Northern California, but it was the Pirates who gained the upper hand in the race for at least second in the Central Valley Conference and a spot in the state playoffs. PC (8-5) improved to 4-0 in the CVC while Taft fell to 3-1.

And while Porterville is well aware it still has unfinished business, there’s no denying that the Pirates are aiming for a showdown at Fresno City on Oct. 14 for CVC supremacy. “Our goal is to get ready for Fresno,” PC coach Dale Henderson said.

“We’re really looking forward to the Fresno City (match),” said Amanda Monge, who had a big night against Taft with 18 kills, 11 digs, three blocks and was 8-of-10 serving with one ace.

But it didn’t come easy for PC in the end. After Taft closed to within 20-17, it appeared that the Pirates had regained control on kills by Myra Moreno and Tori Davis gave PC a 22-18 lead. But Taft went on a 5-0 run to go up 23-22 before Davis surprised Taft with a two-handed set that land on Taft’s side with nobody home to give the Pirates their first match point and a 24-23 lead.

Monge’s kill gave PC its second match point at 25-24 and another kill by Monge gave Porterville its third match point at 26-25. PC had a fourth match point at 27-26 before Taft went on to gain a match point at 28-27.

But Stephanie Dounseroux saved the day when she surprised Taft with a two-handed set that landed in an open space on Taft’s side to tie the score 28-28. Kills by Allison Clem and Davis then ended it.

PC throttled Taft in game one  with Davis serving for the final final eight points of the game, including three aces.

In game two, PC trailed 18-16, but finished the game with a 9-1 run. Taft couldn’t handle two straight serves by Clem, which set up two straight Moreno dinks, giving PC a 24-19 lead on its way to winning the game.

Davis had 10 kills, one block, three digs and was 20-of-21 serving with seven aces. “Seven aces is phenomenal,” Henderson said.

Clem had nine kills, seven digs and was 10-of-10 serving, Moreno had five kills, Dounseroux had two kills, one block, eight digs, 30 assists and was 15-of-15 serving and Jennifer Landers had nine digs and was 12-of-13 serving with one ace for PC.

“I am happy with them,” Henderson said. “They played a great, complete match. Even though the last game was tight, I can’t complain about anything.”