Photo by Bruce Battle
Photo by Bruce Battle

SMCC Women's Volleyball Splits with Ottawa University (JV) and Pima CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College women's volleyball team (8-12, 3-5 ACCAC) split its two matches last week, defeating Ottawa University (JV) 3-0 on Sept. 26 before falling 3-1 to Pima CC in an ACCAC contest in Tucson on Sept. 27. Freshman Rylea Simonich led SMCC with 10 kills against both the Spirit and the Aztecs. 

Ottawa University (AZ) Recap

The Cougars took a break from conference play and defeated the Spirit's JV squad in three sets: 25-9, 29-27, 25-13. 

SMCC hit .317 over the three sets, including a .533 mark with 18 kills in the third and final set. The Cougars finished with 40 kills, 36 assists, nine service aces, 60 digs, and 13 blocks. 

Simonich hit .526 in 19 swings and had zero errors. She set a new season best with 10 solo blocks and added four digs and a block assist. 

Sophomores Rylee Pitts and Lexi Wasil had nine kills for SMCC in the win. Pitts hit .333 in 21 attacks and added four digs and a block assist, while Wasil hit .207 in 29 attacks and set a new season high with 10 digs.

Freshman Ayanna Rae LeBlanc posted seven kills and a .583 hitting percentage in 12 attacks. She added a service ace, two digs and a solo block. 

Sophomore Delicea McAuley led SMCC with 36 assists, and added six digs and a service ace. Freshman Mikelle McAfee had a team-high 18 digs and one service ace. 

Freshman Hope Williamson totaled four kills, four service aces, and three digs. 

Pima CC Recap

The Cougars fell in four sets on the road against the Aztecs as they closed out the first half of their ACCAC schedule: 25-20, 18-25, 25-10, 25-18. 

SMCC totaled 32 kills, 31 assists, two service aces, 55 digs and seven blocks. The Cougars hit .364 with 10 kills in their second-set victory. 

Simonich hit .500 on 18 attacks and added eight digs, three solo blocks and a block assist. She leads the ACCAC in solo blocks with 41 and ranks fourth in total blocks with 66. 

Wasil was second on the team with seven kills and recorded four digs and a solo block. Pitts had six kills and six digs, while Rae LeBlanc and sophomore Mariah Smith had three kills each. 

McAuley led SMCC with 29 assists and added four digs, while McAfee totaled a team-high 13 digs.