Owls Knock-Off Mounties in Four

Glendora, CA -- It took four sets, but the Citrus College Volleyball team overcame 12 service errors and a .071 kill percentage to take out local rival Mt. San Antonio College. The Owls made up for it with 13 aces, and 13 total blocks.

The Owls fell behind early on Wednesday evening, as the Mounties jumped out to a 9-3 lead in set number one. Citrus would rally though using a 12-4 run to take a 15-13 lead after back to back aces by sophomore Cassandra Freitag. The set would go back and forth with Mt. SAC going up late 24-23. Once again Citrus rallied, getting back to back kills from Freitag and a Mountie error to end the set 26-24 in favor of the Owls.

The second set picked up where the first left off. Both teams traded opening salvos, but midway through the Owls used a 9-0 run to take a commanding 15-7 lead. Mt. SAC slowly work their way back into the match pulling to within two at 20-18, but the Owls finished on a 5-0 run punctuated by freshman Samantha Jape.

Citrus' momentum from the second continued on into the third, where they led 17-14 midway through. The Mounties quickly flipped the switch though and took advantage of some Owls miscues to score 11 of the final 13 points to win set three 25-19.

Mt. SAC would go on to score the first point of the fourth set, but that would be over the next six scores, as Citrus gave itself a 6-1 lead. The  Mounties would pull to within three a couple of times midway through, but the Owls slammed the door shut late, closing the set on a 7-2 run to grab the victory.

In the win, Citrus was led by Freitag who had a match high 14 kills. Freitag also contributed on three assist blocks, while Jape had four kills, three assist blocks, and a solo block. Sophomore Kyla White dug up a team high 13 balls, while sophomore Kaylee Johnson and freshmen Allison Castanon and Jacqueline Medina each had 12 digs. Medina, Castanon and freshman setter Kristen Fox each had three aces, while Fox also handed out 30 assists on the night.

With the win, Citrus improves to 2-3 on the year. The Owls will try and keep it going on Friday when they start off the San Diego Mesa Tournament against Riverside City College at Grossmont College at 4:00 PM.