College Recap: UC Irvine off to a perfect start in women’s volleyball

Catching up with how local college teams fared recently.

UC Irvine

The women’s volleyball team is off to a 6-0 start following a pair of victories Saturday, and another on Friday.

On Saturday, UCI defeated Illinois State, 17-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20, thanks to a 38-assist, 14-dig performance from junior setter Ali Koumelis. Earlier in the day, the Anteaters cruised by Saint Louis, 25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 26-24, thanks to a career-best 21 kills from Haley DeSales. Saturday’s victories were preceded by a 25-21, 25-18, 25-23 sweep against Kennesaw State. Harlee Kekauoha led UCI with 14 kills in that victory.

In cross-country, the men’s and women’s teams fared well at the Pepperdine Invitational on Friday. The men’s team defended its title, going 3-0 in dual-meet scoring by defeating Cal State Northridge, Long Beach State and Pepperdine. The Anteaters had five runners place in the top 10, let by Hector Garcia. The sophomore won the individual title by finishing the 5,000-meter race in 15 minutes 41.97 seconds.

On the women’s side, UCI went 4-1 in dual-meet scoring, defeating USC, Bakersfield, Cal State Northridge and Pepperdine, while losing to Long Beach State. Four Anteater women placed in the top 15, led by Anastasia Karnaze. The sophomore was fourth overall with a time of 14:58.71 on the 4,000-meter course at Alumni Park.

The Anteater men’s and women’s soccer teams were also in action Sunday. The women’s team improved to 2-1-2 with a 3-0 home victory against Toledo in a nonconference match. Kiana Palacios, Shelby Lee and Noel Baham scored for UCI, which next faces host Loyola Marymount at 7 p.m. Friday.

On the men’s side, the Anteaters improved to 2-1-1 following a 2-1 victory against visiting UNC Asheville. Giovanni Godoy and Ivan Canales scored for UCI in the 46th and 47th minutes, respectively.

Orange Coast College

The Pirates’ football team had a rough opener Saturday, but their women’s volleyball, women’s soccer and men’s soccer programs were all victorious the day prior.

In football, OCC dropped a 31-22 nonconference road game against East L.A. College, which used a balanced offense — 293 yards through the air and 169 on the ground — to turn a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter into a somewhat comfortable victory.

For the Pirates, running back Nico Jackson ran for 103 yards and a score, and quarterback Pete Mitchell added 97 yards on the ground, plus a touchdown. The freshman also passed for 127 yards and a score.

On Friday, OCC had an impressive day. The women’s volleyball team (4-1) won both matches in a quad contest, first defeating Santa Monica College, 25-15, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, and then edging Citrus College, 25-20, 22-25, 25-18, 25-15. Against Santa Monica, Hannah Del Barto led the way with 16 kills and she added 17 in the win against Citrus.

The men’s soccer team earned its first win of the season with a 2-1 nonconference triumph against Chaffey College at home. Carlos Ambrosi scored the game-winner for the Pirates (1-0-2) in the 79th minute, off an assist from Nick Cardenas.

The women’s soccer team (2-1-1) earned a 1-0 victory against Clovis in the Nike Showcase at Ventura College, thanks to a goal in the 90th minute by Hailey Auer.

Golden West College

Three Rustler programs were in action Friday, and each came away with a shutout victory.

In women’s soccer, Golden West defeated L.A. Harbor, 2-0, in a home nonconference match. Ashley Mora scored in the 13th minute and Cachel McClure added a goal in the 42nd minute to help the Rustlers to victory in their season opener.

In men’s soccer, Golden West improved to 2-1 on the season with a 1-0 victory against visiting Compton. Ronaldo Escudero had the match’s lone goal in the 77th minute.

The women’s volleyball team (2-3) won its home opener against Cerritos, 25-11, 25-12, 25-16, behind a 12-kill effort from Ashleigh Atsaros.

Vanguard University

The men’s and women’s soccer teams had a pair of blowout victories. On the men’s side, Vanguard (5-1) defeated visiting University of Antelope Valley, 6-0, led by two goals from Sebastian Cortez. Martin Arrieta added a score and assisted on three others.

On the women’s side, the Lions won their first match of the season, 8-1, against Marymount California University, thanks to a pair of goals each from Kiera Muniz, Anna Montemor and Emily Miramontes.