The Cats Claw Back to Edge the Rustlers in Five Sets
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
20 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 17 | 3 |
|
|
25 | 15 | 29 | 17 | 15 | 2 |
Team Stats
Saddleback
Golden West
| Game Statistics | Saddleback | Golden West |
|---|---|---|
| Hitting % | .233 | .137 |
| Blocks | 8.0 | 9.0 |
| Digs | 85 | 77 |
| Aces | 7 | 7 |
The Golden West College Rustlers women's volleyball team pushed the Saddleback Bobcats to the limit but ultimately came up short in a five-set battle at home. Despite a gritty effort, the Rustlers lost 3-2, with set scores of 25-20, 15-25, 29-27, 17-25, and 15-17.
The match was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with both teams exchanging big plays and long rallies. Saddleback improved to 5-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while the Rustlers dropped to 3-6 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
Golden West opened the match with energy, claiming the first set 25-20 behind strong hitting and disciplined defense. However, the momentum shifted in the second set, where the Bobcats dominated with a .400 hitting percentage, winning 25-15 to even the match.
The third set was a marathon, with both teams refusing to back down. Golden West edged Saddleback 29-27, thanks to clutch kills from Ashlynd Larson and Hayden Johnston, but the Bobcats responded with a decisive 25-17 win in the fourth to force a tiebreaker.
In the final set, the Rustlers fought hard, but Saddleback closed it out 17-15 in a nail-biting finish, sealing the victory with timely kills from Lulu Utterback and Delaney Wilson.
Despite the loss, the Rustlers showed resilience and tenacity, highlighted by Larson's 15-kill performance and Johnston's stellar defense with four solo blocks. Zoellers orchestrated the offense with 40 assists and added three aces from the service line.
