Thompson notches eight solo blocks in third straight sweep

Isabella Thompson recorded a career-high eight solo blocks on Wednesday night as No. 3 SBCC swept past Citrus 3-0 in its final nonconference women's volleyball match at the Sports Pavilion. The scores were 25-18, 25-19, 25-21.

Thompson, a 5-11 sophomore middle blocker from Stockton, had four kills and a career-best nine blocks for the Vaqueros (15-3), who posted their third straight sweep and 13th of the season.

Kaylene Ureno had eight kills and hit .312 and Shannon Friend also had eight kills.

The Vaqueros broke open a 6-6 first set with a 15-6 run that produced a 21-12 lead. Hannah Cantrell drilled an overpass for the 23rd point and Citrus (2-15) had a double-contact call and a serve in the net to end the 25-18 Vaquero victory.

SBCC led through most of the second set, taking leads of 8-3, 15-10 and 18-12 on a tip kill by Thompson. The Owls got within three points on two occasions before a kill by Friend and a double contact on Citrus ended the set.

"We wanted to focus on some teams goals and we accomplished all of them," said setter Kiana Pisula, who had three kills and 18 assists. "We did a good job of staying disciplined and focusing on what we needed to do. I love our team, we have a lot of weapons and I'm confident setting anyone."

The Vaqueros hit .375 in the opening set and .280 in the third. They had to rally from deficits of 12-6, 16-12 and 19-17 to win the third set 25-21. Trailing 19-17, Thompson made a block with Carolyn Andrulis and a solo block to ignite an 8-2 match-ending run.

Pisula had a rare full-swing kill in the third set when she pounded a set from Hillary Bean to put the Vaqueros ahead 20-19. "We like to tell the girls, 'Set your setter and they'll love you forever,' " said 26th-year head coach Ed Gover.

Claire Bagdasar had four aces and five digs for the Vaqueros.

"We didn't know much about Citrus because we didn't have any film on them," Gover noted. "We were a little flat emotionally but physically, we were strong. Our serving was a little off and Claire's passing was a little off but we found ways to become more efficient in other areas.

"I don't mind being in the situation we were in late in the third set, being down by two and needing a sideout and a score. It's reassuring to see us do that after practicing the same situation yesterday. You have to do that down the stretch, you're not always going to have the lead."

Gover said that Pisula "is setting much better. She's really starting to mature as a player. She's starting to play like a veteran rather than playing like a freshman."

He also praised the effort of Citrus, which got eight kills from Leah Price.

"They had lots of fight in them and showed good energy," said Gover. "They swung hard and served well."

The four-time defending WSC North champion Vaqueros open conference play on Friday vs. Cuesta in a 6 p.m. match in San Luis Obispo.