ECC women’s volleyball team remain undefeated in conference
El Camino College women’s volleyball team outside hitter Mikayla Clark spikes the ball against Cerritos College outside hitters Jackie Dixon and Alexia Torres Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the ECC South Gym. Clark finished the match with18 kills. Jaime Solis/The Union
After losing the first two sets against Rio Hondo College, the South Coast Conference (SCC) leading El Camino College women’s volleyball team won three straight sets to avoid the upset.
The Warriors (16-4, 11-0 in conference) had lapses of communication miscues through the first two sets. ECC had a total of 15 kills in 67 team attempts compared to the Roadrunners’ 33 kills in 89 team attempts.
“You just have to stay positive, you can’t get negative and portray bad energy onto someone else,” Warriors middle blocker Ginia Goods said. “Keeping a positive attitude will help communication.”
ECC came into the match having won 11 straight matches and the only unbeaten team in the SCC.
“We have won a lot so we have a target on our back all the time,” Warriors coach Liz Hazell said. “People kind of always give us their best match so we know we have to come out strong every time.”
ECC flipped the switch in the third set as they had a game-high 18 kills as a team, while Warriors outside hitter Kayla Conley contributed with 9 kills leading them to their first set win of the match.
The fourth set was sloppy on both ends but the Warriors were able to pull away at the end to force a fifth set.
“Tonight was rough,” Goods said. “I knew there would be a comeback [but] we didn’t want it to be too late.”
Warriors came out of the gate in the fifth set leading 5-2 but the Roadrunners put together 7-1 to take the lead on the Warriors. Tied at 14, ECC had back-to-back kills to seal the game and avoid losing their first conference game.
“[Coming into the fifth set, it] helped that we won the last two sets because we were already fired up,” Warriors setter Caitlin Donatucci said. “It would of been different [had we lost the two previous sets.]”
Warriors Mikayla Clark had 17 kills in 49 attempts and Caitlin Donatucci had 43 assists.
ECC was able to sweep Pasadena City College (16-7, 7-5 in conference) for its second win of the week on Friday, Nov. 1 and are now 12-0 in conference.
The Warriors travel to play East Los Angeles College (9-16, 2-10 in conference) on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. for its last away game of the season.
