SMCC Women's Volleyball Outlasts Mesa CC

PHOENIX ---

The Cougars defeated Mesa CC 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-13) in a thrilling ACCAC road contest on Friday, Sept. 22. SMCC and Mesa CC exchanged sets through the first four frames before the Cougars posted 15-13 victory in set five to earn the crucial conference victory. The next day, SMCC fell 3-1 in a non-conference match at Chandler-Gilbert CC.

Mesa CC Recap

SMCC hit .163 with 58 kills in 184 attacks and added 10 service aces and 10 blocks in the win. The Cougars also recorded 55 assists and a season-high 124 digs as they outlasted the Thunderbirds.

Freshman Rylea Simonich led the Cougars with a season-high 15 kills and a blistering .542 hitting percentage in 24 swings. She added four digs, three solo blocks and a block assist in the win.

Sophomore Rylee Pitts was second on the squad with 12 kills. She recorded 17 digs to post her sixth double-double of the season, and Pitts added a service ace and a solo block.

Sophomore Mariah Smith was the third Cougar with double-digit kills, finishing with a season-high 10. She also set a new season best with eight digs and added three solo blocks and a block assist.

Sophomore Lexi Wasil and freshman Hope Williamson each had nine kills in the win. Wasil had a dig and a solo block, while Williamson recorded 19 digs, one assist, one service ace and one block assist.

Freshman Mikelle McAfee led SMCC with 28 digs and added four service aces. Sophomore Delicea McAuley posted a team-high 54 assists with 20 digs to record her sixth double-double. Sophomore Hayden Rosales was second on the team with 24 digs and added two service aces. 

Chandler-Gilbert CC Recap 

Facing the Coyotes for the second time in eight days, the Cougars fell 3-1 in a non-conference road match on Saturday, Sept. 23: 25-22, 21-25, 25-20, 25-23. 

SMCC totaled 53 kills in 154 attacks to post a .227 hitting percentage. The Cougars added 48 assists, four service aces, 88 digs, and six blocks over the four sets. 

Pitts led SMCC with 14 kills in 51 attacks, adding 10 digs and a service ace. The double-double was her seventh of the season. 

Simonich was second on the team with 10 kills, hitting .292 in 24 attacks. She added 10 digs for her first double-double of the year and posted two solo blocks. 

Wasil also had 10 kills and hit .231 in 26 swings. She added two digs, a solo block and a block assist. Williamson finished with nine kills and a .500 hitting percentage with 10 digs and an assist. 

Freshman Ayanna Rae LeBlanc posted six kills with two digs, two solo blocks and a block assist. McAuley led SMCC with 46 assists and added five digs and three kills. McAfee led the Cougars with 25 digs and added an assist and a service ace.