After making the 420-mile bus ride to Folsom, the Long Beach City College women’s volleyball team made a statement Friday night as they knocked out San Joaquin Delta 26-24, 16-25, 25-20, 26-24 to advance to the CCCAA State Volleyball semifinals for the first time in over 25 years.
The Vikings will now be in a rematch against Feather River on Saturday at 5 p.m. Last year, Feather River knocked LBCC out of the state playoffs in the quarterfinals.
The Vikings trailed 8-4 in the first set, but LBCC battled back thanks to a kill and block from Ryleeh Tuaolo tied the set 8-8.
The two teams continued to go back and forth and after it being tied 24-24, Cynthia Hinjosa and Tuaolo gave the Vikings a 25-24 with a block. LBCC took the first set after a hitting error by Hadlee Gray.
San Joaquin Delta showed why they were the top seed out of the North as they jumped out to a 7-2 lead and eventually took a 13-6 lead before tying the set 25-16.
In the third set, the Vikings pulled away after it was tied 4-4. After taking a 7-4 lead the Vikings didn’t trail as they took a 2-1 lead thanks to a 25-20 lead.
Kyla Jones led LBCC with 15 kills and Tuaolo and Marissa Krebs each reached double figures with 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
Looking to close the match out, the Vikings took a 16-9 lead but San Joaquin went on a 9-2 run that tied the frame 18-18.
The Mustangs continued to gain momentum as they took a 24-22 lead and were poised to tie the match 2-2.
However, after a San Joaquin service error and an ace Cynthia Hinjosa – the Vikings were right back in it as they tied the match 24-24.
A Mustang attack error gave LBCC match point and a block by Jones and Tuaolo pushed the Vikings into the semifinals with a 26-24 victory.
Running their 6-2 formation, Emeli Muagututi’a and Camille Agrupis had 22 and 20 assists respectively.
