LBCC’s women’s beach volleyball team played two home conference matches on March 28, losing 3-2 to Mt. San Antonio College, but bounced back when Alexandra Rosquin and Ryannah Gagau locked down the third match point, 21-16 and 21-9, for a 4-1 win against College of the Desert.
With a 4-2 conference record, LBCC wrapped up the fifth week of the South Coast Conference.
As this set of matches approached, head coach Tyler Jackson clarified that the team felt pressured by Mt. SAC’s first position rank in the conference, who now have a 6-0 conference record.
“We came in knowing that we needed to perform really well to have a shot at the conference title, so we prepped all week. I think that made the girls a bit nervous,” Jackson said.
The only duo to defeat Mt. SAC in two sets were Enaya Vaielua and Mikayla Curry, who scored 21-12 and 23-21 but lost 21-18 and 21-17 against College of the Desert.
“The first game was definitely a personal thing for us, the second game we just went into it a little lax, more comfortable. That’s when it got hard to play catch up towards the end,” Curry said.
Curry further elaborated that the team is constantly learning how to play as partners despite changes.
“You build relationships with your partner, so it’s kind of hard when you flip and flop with who you play with. I think Enaya being off taught me how to be a better teammate when she came back, it made me realize dang, she handles a lot of stuff on her own that I didn’t realize,” Curry said.
An unchanged duo that had opposite results were Alanna Jones and Maggie Acevedo, who lost 21-19 and 28-26 against Mt. SAC, but came back in full swing with wins of 21-11 and 21-14 against College of the Desert.
LBCC beach volleyball player Ryleeh Tuaolo jumps in front of the net during the first match of the conference game against Mt. San Antonio. The Vikings lost the match 3-2 on March 28, 2025. (Kay Pham-Nguyen)
Jones reminisced over her time as a player for the Vikings, as this match marked the final home game for her as a sophomore.
“We were battling it out, and I know they were on the other courts, too. Sometimes things like that happen, and it’s ok, we bounce back from that… I love these girls but I’m a sophomore, I’m leaving. So it’s bittersweet. Everybody just makes it so fun to play here, and everyone really puts in their all, all the time.” Jones said.
Head Coach Jackson ended the day off with a debrief with her team, discussing how the team will move forward.
“Everyone’s trying to figure out what their weaknesses are, and trying to turn that into strength. You’re gonna have your days when you win some, you lose some… right now we figure out how we can come back,” said Jackson.