SMCC Splits with Mesa CC, Glendale CC to Clinch Playoff Berth

PHOENIX --- 

The South Mountain Community College women's volleyball team defeated Mesa CC 3-0 on October 26 and lost 3-1 to Glendale CC on October 28 in a pair of ACCAC matches at the SMCC Gym. Against the Thunderbirds, sophomore Madison Cadden led the Cougars with 16 kills, and freshman Rylee Pitts added 14 as SMCC clinched a postseason bid with the victory. Two days later, Cadden paced SMCC with a match-high 22 kills, but the Gauchos rallied from an opening-set loss to take the win. 

The Cougars have earned the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Region I Division II Tournament. SMCC will open the tournament against the host Artichokes of Scottsdale CC on Thursday, November 3 at 7 p.m.

Mesa CC Recap

Cadden and Pitts combined for 30 kills as the Cougars won in straight sets: 25-21, 25-17 and 27-25. SMCC had 59 digs, 44 assists and six total blocks in the victory. 

Cadden finished with 16 kills on 42 attacks to post a .333 hitting percentage and added seven digs and a block assist. Pitts had 14 kills on 36 swings to post a .222 hitting percentage. She added three digs in the win. 

Sophomore Jalyssa Rogers had six kills and a .385 hitting percentage in 13 attacks. She also had three solo blocks and a block assist. Sophomore Emily Wilson recorded three kills and seven digs. 

Freshman Delicea McAuley recorded 43 assists and 14 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Sophomore Imani Cannon led SMCC with 15 digs, while freshman Rylee Wengert had 11 stops. 

Glendale CC Recap

The Cougars won the first set, but Glendale CC rallied to take the following three sets: 27-29, 25-18, 25-11, 25-14. SMCC hit .195 in the match with 44 kills on 149 swings. 

Cadden led all players with 22 kills and hit .327 in 55 swings. She added seven digs and a block assist. She is the fourth Cougar since 2012 to finish with more than 300 kills in a season. 

Rogers recorded seven kills, a solo block and four block assists, and Pitts finished with eight kills and a dig. Freshman Brynley Lynch had two kills, three digs, a solo block and a block assist. 

McAuley led the Cougars with 44 assists and added three digs. Cannon paced the team with 17 digs to go with two service aces, and Wilson recorded three kills, 11 digs and four block assists.