For the third time in four seasons, the El Camino College women’s volleyball team advanced to the California Community College Athletic Association Women’s Volleyball State Championships after defeating Moorpark College on Saturday, Nov. 30.

“As a freshman playing in the state tournament, it’s amazing and shows the hard work throughout the season pays off,” Warriors’ middle blocker Ginia Goods said.

The ECC Warriors will play Fresno City College in the state quarterfinals Friday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. at Chula Vista’s Southwestern College.

The Warriors and Raiders split the first two sets with ECC winning the first 26-24 followed by a Moorpark win 25-17.

Caitlin Donatucci had 38 assists and 11 digs, pushing her season total of assists to 1,070. Donatucci is now 54 assists away from tying former player Samantha Taylor’s record for most assists in a single season that was set in 2008, according to Sports Information Specialist Rafael Guerrero.

ECC went on to win both the third and fourth sets by the same score, 25-23, securing their spot to play for the state title.

“We want to make sure we don’t give up runs,” Warriors’ coach Liz Hazell said. “If we make an error [we need to make sure] the team doesn’t stack them on each other.”

Warriors’ outside hitter Mikayla Clark led the Warriors with 19 kills and 17 digs while opposite hitter Jocelyn Lacroix had 11 kills. The Warriors’ defensive specialist Kelly Donatucci led the defense with 26 digs while outside hitter Cassidy Crosby and opposite hitter Jessica Villasenor had 13 digs a piece.

Raiders’ setter Lea Raha had 42 assists while outside hitter Megan Wall led the team with 18 kills.

“It is my second year in a row going [to state championships] and I hope we get farther in the tournament this year,” Lacroix said. “I feel like we played the way we wanted to play today and improved on the mistakes that troubled us in the previous playoff games.”

Editor’s Note: A spelling mistake was corrected on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 11:29 a.m.