Cougars Complete Tough Run at San Diego Mesa Quad

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

SAN DIEGO — No. 10 College of the Canyons completed a tough four-match stretch at the annual San Diego Mesa Quad, with the Cougars winning their final match to finish 1-3 on the weekend against four top-25 ranked opponents.

Canyons (5-4) entered the event having won four straight matches but had its streak snapped by No. 6 San Diego Mesa in Friday's opener with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-19) final score.

The Cougars went the distance vs. No. 17 MiraCosta, winning a dramatic fourth set to send the match into a fifth frame but didn't have enough to come all the way back, eventually falling 3-2 (25-17, 17-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-5).

On day two, Canyons was dealt another five-set loss this time at the hands of No. 12 Cypress in a dramatic 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 21-25, 25-21, 18-16) thriller that saw the Cougars win the middle two sets.

In its final match of the weekend, COC rebounded with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-10) win vs. No. 22 Mt. San Jacinto. Canyons and Mt. JAC previously met in the play-in round of the 2021 SoCal Regional playoffs.

Top Performers vs. No. 6 San Diego Mesa – L 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-19)

• Aly Grodell — 3 SP, 8 K, SA, BA, .385
• Jordan Nunez — 3 SP, 3 K, 18 A, SA, BA, 5 digs
• Sahliyah Ravare — 3 SP, K, BS, 4 BA
• Ariana Vargas — 3 SP, 8 K, SA, BA, 5 digs
• Kaelyn White — 3 SP, 8 K, SA, 3 BS, 2 BA

Top Performers vs. No. 17 MiraCosta – L 3-2 (25-17, 17-25, 25-22, 20-25, 15-5)

• Brianna Botello — 5 SP, 7 K, BA
• Aly Grodell — 5 SP, 11 K, 2 BA, .474
• Grace Rodriguez — 5 SP, K, 17 A, 2 SA, 3 digs
• Abby Sherman — 5 SP, SA, 12 digs
• Ariana Vargas — 5 SP, 11 K, 2 A, BA, 2 digs
• Kaelyn White — 5 SP, 11 K, SA, BS, BA

Top Performers vs. No. 12 Cypress – L 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 21-25, 25-21, 18-16)

• Jacqueline Ibarra – 4 SP, 10 K, BA, 2 digs, .364
• Mia Gitsham — 5 SP, 8 K, 3 SA, BS, 3 BA, .462
• Aly Grodell — 5 SP, 19 K, 3 BA, 4 digs, .410
• Jordan Nunez — 5 SP, 4 K, 22 A, SA, 4 digs, .571
• Grace Rodriguez — 5 SP, 21 A, SA, 5 digs
• Abby Sherman — 5 SP, SA, 21 digs
• Ariana Vargas — 5 SP, 7 K, SA, 7 digs

Top Performers vs. No. 22 Mt. San Jacinto – W 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-10)

• Brianna Botello — 3 SP, 6 K
• Mia Gitsham — 3 SP, 4 K, 2 BA, .444
• Aly Grodell — 3 SP, 11 K, 4 BA, .647
• Jordan Nunez — 3 SP, 18 A, 3 SA, BA, 2 digs
• Ariana Vargas — 3 SP, 4 K, 3 SA, 6 digs
• Kaelyn White — 5 SP, 11 K, SA, BS, BA

Upcoming Schedule
Canyons returns to its home court on Wednesday, Sept. 14 for a match vs. No. 8 Pasadena City College, a non-conference contest and anticipated rematch between two programs that last met during the Cougars' 2022 playoff run. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. with live stream coverage on the Cougars Sports Network.

The Cougars' homestand continues on Friday, Sept. 16 with a non-conference home match vs. No. 2 Ventura College, who Canyons defeated in the 2021 postseason to advance to the state championship tourney,

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

—Photo by Mari Kneisel / COC Sports Information