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SANTA ANA, CA - The Santa Ana College (SAC) women's volleyball team defeated visiting Saddleback College in three straight games to record their first Orange Empire Conference win since defeating Riverside College on October 19 in 2007.
The two teams traded the lead throughout the early stages of the first game with the biggest lead belonging to the Dons (3-4, 1-3) at 10-6. With the game tied at 16-16 and Venny Van serving, the Dons went on a 3-0 run, including one service ace by Van to take a 19-16 lead.
Saddleback (2-7, 0-4) battled back to tie the game at 22-22 before the Dons scored three of the next five points to win the game at 25-23. The win was the Dons first game won in conference play.
Andrea Gallardo started the Dons off on the right foot in the second game as she served for six straight points including two service aces to put the Dons up 6-0.
The Dons continued to lead early until Christina Licciardi's service ace tied the game at 16-16. The Gauchos were able to stay close late in the game but were unable to overtake the Dons who held the lead from beginning to end before ultimately winning the game by a score of 25-22.
Saddleback took the first point of the third game for its first lead since leading 16-15 in the first game. The Dons quickly reclaimed the lead at 2-1 on a Lupe Salinas block.
The Dons extended their lead to 12-6 before Saddleback charged back to tie the game at 23-23. Back-to-back errors by the Gauchos gave the Dons the final two points to win the game, and the match by a score of 25-23.
Venny Van led the way for several strong performances for the Dons with 16 digs and six kills followed by Teuila Palm with a game-high 11 kills and eight digs.
Andrea Gallardo had seven service aces to go along with 12 digs and Angelica Cornejo had 24 assists with 11 digs.
NEXT: Santa Ana at Cypress, Friday, October 16 at 6:00 p.m. |
