Volleyball Drops Two in Tri-Tournament Action

The Riverside City College women's volleyball squad hosted a pair of non-conference teams this Wednesday evening by facing off against the Mt. San Jacinto College Eagles and the Citrus College Owls in non-conference action. While showing signs of light, the Tigers were unable to leap the hurdle to victory as they dropped both contests each by the final count of 3-1.

Game One

Mt. San Jacinto vs. Riverside

After dropping the opening set, the Tigers roared back to win the second set by the final score of 25-19. Freshman outside hitter Marcella Rodriguez (Belize City, Belize) kicked off the set by hammering home a kill. Freshman outside hitter Kyndra Jordan-Thomas (Victorville, CA) followed with a kill of her own right after entering into the game. Both kills were assisted by freshman setter Taylor Gardner (Colton, CA). Gardner later added a drop shot kill of her own to bring the Tigers within one point of the lead at 8-9.

After an attacking error by Mt. San Jacinto that handed the Tigers their first lead of the set, freshman outside hitter Darricka Hewitt (Riverside, CA) expanded Riverside's lead with two-consecutive kills. Jordan-Thomas added another kill backed by a kill from freshman middle blocker Lauren Dunmore (Northridge, CA) to bring the score to 16-15.

Riverside never surrendered the lead from then on as Rodriguez highlighted the efforts with three more kills leading to a 25-19, second set victory.

Rodriguez led the way with 12 kills, while Jordan-Thomas followed with 11 kills. Freshman setting tandem Tessie Evalu (Wildomar, CA) and Gardner each notched 17 assists.

Game Two

Citrus vs. Riverside

The second match of the day looked all too familiar for the Tigers as they won the third set, but could not close out the fourth to lead to a fifth, thus dropping the match 3-1.

Freshman middle blocker Abheni Williams-Lowrey (Moreno Valley, CA) excelled in a well-rounded fashion by totaling four blocks (three assisted and one solo) while adding four kills and one dig. Freshman outside hitter Alexis Calhoun (Riverside, CA) chipped in four kills, while Rodriguez paced the pack with 10 kills. She was the lone double-digit total for the Tigers. Furthermore, she recorded 13 digs.

Evalu was the main facilitator by dishing out 16 assists which is a career-high mark. Freshman libero Natalie Escher (Redlands, CA) pocketed a career-hihg total as well with 21 digs.

The Tigers (2-2) will host Imperial Valley this Friday, September 8 at 6 p.m. in Wheelock Gym.