Long Beach City College’s women’s volleyball team lost a close call game against Rio Hondo Community College on Wednesday with the last set ending at 12-15.
During the first period, the game started off rough with the opponent team striking powerful serves.
LBCC was able to run the scoreboard up in the middle of the set, coming back with amazing blocks and making sure the ball did not hit the ground.
Rio Hondo took over the first period with the score ending 20-25.
Freshman outside hitter Jordyn Hollins and freshman middle blocker Ryannah Gagau block an attack from the Rio Hondo Roadrunners. In a close game, the Vikings lost to Rio Hondo Community College in the fifth set, 3-2 Wednesday night. (Izzy Juarez)
The same thing happened in the second set, with LBCC not being able to block or maintain the strong serves that were coming from the other side of the net.
“I think what the team lacked was our defense, and staying calm under pressure,” said middle blocker freshman, Rynnah Gagau.
When the third set began, LBCC came out stronger making sure that Rio didn’t take the third set for the win.
All were focused and played skillfully, especially with the middle blocker Gagau coming through with strong strikes and blocks.
“I knew my team needed me, at that time I couldn’t think about myself and my mistakes because it’s not an individual sport, it’s a team sport,” said Gagau.
LBCC was able to get the win for the third period, giving the team a chance to win.
Freshman Kaylani Moncada prepares a pass for teammates. In a close game, the Vikings lost to Rio Hondo Community College in the fifth set, 3-2 Wednesday night. (Izzy Juarez)
When period four started, Rio Hondo was fighting to get the win but the Vikings made sure to repeat what they did in the third set.
LBCC Vikings win the fourth period, needing only one more set to win the game overall.
With the fifth set starting off rough, the scoreboard being 6-11, they managed to pick their momentum back up again, switching the score to 12-14.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, the opponent team scored the one point they needed to win the game, making it 12-15.
“I think we waited too late to play, we were down two sets and then we finally woke up in the third set. It’s always hard when you are coming into the game with that hunger mentality in the third set because now you’re playing catch up, if we started the 1st the way we played third, we would’ve had a different outcome,” said head coach Tyler Jackson.
Looking ahead to their next match, the Vikings will be taking on Mt. San Antonio on Oct. 18.