SMCC Women's Volleyball Splits with Phoenix College and Mesa CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College women's volleyball team (3-12, 1-6 ACCAC) split its ACCAC contests last week, defeating Phoenix College at home 3-1 on Sept. 17 before falling 3-2 to nationally ranked Mesa CC in a road match on Sept. 19. Sophomore Ayanna Rae LeBlanc set a new career high with 18 kills and hit a sizzling .500 in 34 swings in the four-set victory over the Bears. Two days later, sophomore Rylea Simonich led SMCC with 21 kills, one shy of matching her career best, as the Cougars nearly pulled off the road upset against the Thunderbirds. 

Phoenix College Recap

The Cougars picked up their first league win of the year with a four-set victory over the Bears: 25-12, 25-19, 21-25, 25-13. SMCC had double-digit kills in all four sets and finished with 55 kills in 158 attacks for a .222 hitting percentage. The Cougars added 52 assists, eight service aces, 69 digs, and 20 total blocks (two solo blocks, 18 block assists). 

LeBlanc had both SMCC solo stuffs to go with her team-leading 18 kills. She added seven block assists, four digs, and a service ace over the four sets. 

Freshman Bailee Baca was second on the team and set a new season high with 13 kills. She hit .286 in 28 swings and added eight digs and a block assist.

Simonich was third on the team with 11 kills, hitting .163 in 43 swings. She added a team-best 18 digs for her seventh double-double of the year and also had three service aces and two block assists. 

Another rookie, Alyssa Szymanski, had seven kills, one short of matching a season-best, and added two digs and three block assists. 

Sophomore Hope Williamson matched a career-high with 48 assists and added nine digs, one kill, and one service ace. Sophomore Mikelle McAfee had 16 digs, one kill, two assists, and three service aces. 

Mesa CC Recap 

The Cougars and Thunderbirds exchanged sets throughout the evening, with Mesa CC ultimately prevailing in the decisive fifth frame: 17-25, 25-12, 25-15, 22-25, 15-9. 

SMCC totaled 51 kills on 190 attacks for a .184 hitting percentage and added 51 assists, 11 service aces, 99 digs, four solo blocks, and 14 block assists. 

Simonich led SMCC with 21 kills on 76 attacks for a .224 hitting percentage. She recorded her second double-double of the week and eighth of the year with 14 digs and added one service ace, one solo block, and two block assists. 

Baca was second on the squad with eight kills on 25 swings to hit .320 across the five sets. She finished one dig shy of matching her career high with 23 and added a block assist. 

Sophomore Savannah Collings had nine kills, her most since the season opener on Aug. 22, and added two block assists. LeBlanc and Szymanski each had five kills, with LeBlanc posting two solo blocks and four block assists, while Szymanski had a dig and a block assist. 

McAfee posted a team-best 34 digs and added four assists and a season-high five service aces. Williamson recorded 44 assists and 13 digs for her fifth double-double of the year and added a service ace and a block assist.