Vaqueros Put Together Complete Performance in Sweep at Golden West

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – The No. 13 SBCC women's volleyball team (16-3) put together one of its best performances of the year Wednesday at No. 21 Golden West (11-4), sweeping the Rustlers 25-13, 25-17, 25-15.

"Tonight was one of our most complete matches of the season," head coach Kat Niksto said. "We dominated a very good, ranked team." 

That makes it two straight sweeps for the Vaqueros, who have now won 11 of their last 12 matches.

"As a team, our offense hit a season high .370," Niksto said. "Outside hitter Bella Johnson led the team in kills with 12 and our middles Paige Rudi and Karoline Ruiz were once again dominant at the net both offensively and defensively. Libero Jacelin Mckie was in all the right spots on defense with a team high 18 digs and three aces."

Johnson's match-leading 12 kills (.458) were her second-highest total of the season. She has now reached double-figures in six matches and is averaging 2.31 kills per set, both good for most on the team. She made a mark on the defensive end as well, tying season-bests with eight digs and two blocks.

Ruiz (7 kills) and Rudi (9 kills) led the charge in setting the Vaqueros' new season-high for hitting percentage, attacking at ridiculously efficient clips of .700 and .615, respectively. Those new personal-bests have moved them both above .300 for the year. Ruiz (.316) now ranks fourth in the Western State Conference and Rudi (.313) sits in fifth.

Mckie continued to shine out of the libero position, going for 18 digs for the fourth time in five matches. She currently ranks third in the conference with 282 digs for the year.

The Vaqueros resume conference play this Friday, Oct. 22 for a 6:00 p.m. home match against Cuesta. This will be their second-to-last home match of the regular season.