Long Beach, Mt. SAC In Latest State Women's Volleyball Top 10
Long Beach City College, rated #7, and Mt. San Antonio at #10 are representing the South Coast Conference well in the latest women's volleyball State Top 25 Rankings.
Pasadena City, a team that was in the top 10 on the first few rankings, now stands at #19 while Cerritos comes in at #20.
The SCC will be a little different this season as the conference is back to playing in two, 5-team divisions as LBCC, Cerritos, LA Harbor, El Camino and Compton, making a return after a 3-year hiatus, comprises the South Division. The North Division consists of Mt. SAC, PCC, East Los Angeles, Rio Hondo and Los Angeles City.
As of Sept. 12, LBCC is one of five teams left in the state with an undefeated record at 6-0. The Vikings have beaten the likes of #8 Grossmont, #9 Moorpark, #12 Orange Coast (in five), and #17 Santa Barbara City. Setter-opposite Enaya Vaielua, who had a triple double in kills, set assists and digs in the team's season opener v. OCC, is one of three returning All-SCC players as the Vikings are the frontrunner to win the SCC South.
Cerritos (4-2) will try to challenge with returning All-SCC setter Leeya Rubio. Other standout players in the division are El Camino OH Scheala Nielsen, LA Harbor's returning All-SCC setter Lauren Phinnessee, and Compton MB Vanessa Sibrian, a go-to hitter who helped her team to a historic first program win over LA Pierce on Sept. 11.
In the North, Mt. SAC (6-4) is a frontrunner behind the play of returning All-SCC OH Candace Ceballos. The Mounties started the year on a 5-match win streak, including wins over #11 Bakersfield, #16 Santa Monica and SBCC. The team stretched Grossmont to five, losing the fifth just 17-15.
Pasadena (4-7) started out strong with a sweep over Grossmont, but have since fallen on tough times in one of the state's hardest schedules with losses to #1 San Diego Mesa, #2 San Joaquin Delta, #4 Sierra, #5 Feather River, #6 Fresno City, and #9 Moorpark (a 5-set heartbreaker). PCC will try to overtake Mt. SAC for the North title behind the play of setter-opposite Shaylee Ungos, a CCCWVCA State Player of the Week to open the season.
Defending conference overall champion Rio Hondo is in rebuilding mode under a new head coach and have a top player in OH Shalini Caldera. After its best season in program history last year, East Los Angeles is also in trying to rebuild and have an early standout in OH Susan Santana while Los Angeles City is led by MB Alex Cuatriz.
SCC divisional crossover matches (not counting in conference record) take place later this month with division contests beginning in October.
Mt. SAC will be the host college for the second straight year of the 3C2A State Championship Tournament in December.
Release by Robert Lewis, SCC SID