Martinez Powers Owls Past Glendale

Glendora, CA -- On a night in which the Citrus College Volleyball team honored their 2012 sophomores, it was a sophomore who powered Citrus past visiting Glendale. Sophomore Chelsey Martinez posted a match and career high 18 kills, eight of which came in the fourth and final set, as the Owls defeated the Vaqueros 25-20, 25-18, 23-25, and 25-22.

In the first set it was Citrus from the first serve. The Owls scored the first three points of the set and never relinquished the lead or allowed Glendale to tie it up. The closest they would get late would be when the Vaqueros got to within two at 20-18. Citrus scored five of the next seven points though, getting an ace from freshman Amanda Stone and a kill from Martinez to close out the set.

Citrus started to show some cracks early on in the second set. Glendale scored the game's first three points, but the Owls scored four unanswered to go up 4-3 after a kill from sophomore Alexis Lunney. Citrus wouldn't give the lead back the rest of the set, but the Vaqueros did tie the set up twice along the way, and kept it close trailing by a pair of points at 14-12. That's when the Owls rolled off an 11-6 run, that culminated in Citrus seven point victory.

In the third set, Citrus just came out flat. Glendale jumped out to a 9-3 lead and never really looked back. The Owls would claw their way back into the set cutting the Vaquero lead to one after a kill from Lunney and Glendale error made it 21-22. The Vaqueros calmed down though and closed it out, forcing a fourth set.

Things didn't start off swimmingly for Citrus either in the fourth. For awhile it looked like Glendale may have gained all the momentum and might force more than just a fourth set. Trailing 18-13 midway through the first game, the Owls made a big move and whittled away at the lead. Citrus rattled off seven unanswered getting four kills from Martinez, a kill from freshman Kayla Eddings and an ace from sophomore Kassidy Greenberg to go up 20-18.

The Vaqueros didn't roll over and go away quietly though as they kept it tight till the end. Citrus finally pulled away after sophomore Kimberly Collins posted back to back kills to give the Owls the 25-22 victory.

Along with her 18 kills, Martinez also added a team high 14 digs. That total was matched by Amanda Stone, Breanna Stone, and Yesenia Ibrahim. In total, Citrus recorded 94 digs and 55 kills both season highs. Amanda Stone also handed out 48 assists and recorded 5 aces, while Kimberly Collins chipped in with 9 kills and 1.5 blocks.

With the win, Citrus improves to 12-8 overall and 6-4 in WSC South play. The Owls will hit the road for their final two contests of the season beginning on Friday night when they take on Santa Monica College in Santa Monica at 7:00 PM.