With one thundering kill after another, freshman Nicole Echeverri, outside hitter, was focused and ready to deliver in a huge way.

“She (Echeverri) is one of our dominant players and is the definition of what an outside hitter is about,” Freshman Celeste Tuioti-Mariner, outside hitter, said.

Echeverri said that staying relaxed was the key for her success.

“I try to stay calm and don’t overthink the play, if I don’t overthink things then I will have a good performance,” Echeverri said.

“She (Echeverri) played good. She goes for every ball and is consistent,” sophomore Karlee Napoleon, defensive specialist, said of Echeverris’ performance.

The Warriors cruised past L.A. Harbor College winning in three sets 25-16, 25-10, 25-17.

Echeverri led the team with 15 kills and nine digs. Sophomore Britney Kronberger, middle blocker, chipped in with eight kills, two digs and two blocks.

Sophomore Tarryn Luafalemana, middle blocker, was a scratch due to an illness and sophomore Nigeria Owens, middle blocker, was on a recruiting trip in Texas.

Kronberger, middle blocker and Tuioti-Mariner got the start.

“It felt like I was filling some big shoes,” Tuioti-Mariner. “It didn’t really bother me though.”

Tuioti-Mariner credits the setters.

“Both of our setters (Suekalena Tafao and Allison Lim) did a really good job,” Tuioti-Mariner said. “Allison went out there and did what she was supposed to do. I was proud of them.”

Freshman Elise Tizon, outside hitter, said this team enjoyed itself playing as a group and getting to know each other better.

“We had a lot of fun. There was a lot of energy,” Tizon said. “This is the first game where we had the most fun.”

Coach Le Valley Pattison said she thinks the team has been coming together.

“We played well,” Pattison said. “I think we played much better, more fluid and didn’t commit a lot of errors.”

Assistant coach Liz Hazzell said that it was good being able to put in other players in the game who normally don’t get a chance to participate in the games.

“The setters were doing a better job with focusing on eliminating the mistakes,” Pattison said.

Echeverri agrees and said the team has improved at correcting its unforced errors.

“Communication has been our biggest problem in the past and taking care of the ball,” Echeverri said.

Tuioti-Mariner said she thinks the team has come a long way.

“We have improved a lot; we know each others tendencies a little bit better know,” Tuioti-Mariner said.

“There is good chemistry. It’s later on in the season and everyone is getting comfortable with each other,” Napoleon said.

The Warriors have high hopes going forward and hope to make a deep run in the playoffs.

“Our ultimate goal is to go to state,” Tuioti-Mariner said.

“And I honestly truly believe we can get there.”