Riverside Pushes No. 22 Fullerton to Five Sets in Most Thrilling Match of the Season

It was the most thrilling home match of the season on Friday night as the Riverside City College Indoor Volleyball team played host to the No. 22 Fullerton College Hornets. Riverside pushed the Hornets to five sets and went point-for-point in nearly each set, but were edged down the stretch and fell 3-2.

The set scores were close in each contest as the Tigers took the opening two frames 25-22 and 26-24. The Hornets formidable offense carried them down the stretch, but was fueled by a handful of Tiger mishaps. Ultimately, the Hornets took the following three sets 21-25, 20-25, 14-16.

Riverside stayed in the green in each set with hitting percentages never dipping into the negatives, proving efficiency and effectiveness. Despite dropping the fifth set, they boasted a .217 hitting mark to highlight the night's efforts.

The final set told the tail as Riverside jumped out to a two-point lead, but Fullerton quickly regained the lead on the following three positions. From then on, there were four lead changes. Three services errors on the Tigers' part dug them into a hole, but a kill from freshman Jessica Lepe brought it to 14-all. Nevertheless, a kill from Fullerton's Jade McIntyre and a mistimed set and attempt on the final score handed the Hornets the game.

Riverside was shorthanded for the second-straight match, but freshman duo Maggie Aburto and Lepe took ahold of the reigns per usual. The two nearly had the same efficiency rating as they combined for more than half of the team's total points.

Aburto was an absolute beast down the stretch as she reared back for a season-high 60 attempts and found the floor for 23 kills. She was the nucleus to the Tigers offense as he kills and attempt totals act as career-high marks. It is the first time this season she has had 20+ kills in a match and the ninth time she has recorded double-digit kills.

Lepe backed her with 41 kills on a career-high 41 swings. She was everywhere on the scoresheet and the hardwood as seen in 13 digs, three aces and one block assist.

Sophomroe Keeley Hober landed in double-digit kills for the first time this season as she rose up for 10. She recorded four total blocks at the net; two solo and two assists.

Freshman Chloe Christelman had a career night highlighted by 39 assists. Her assist mark is Riverside's highest total on the season. Freshman Mya Castro was vital down the stretch with nine digs and five assists as well.