Hawks Battle No. 10 Orange Coast in Conference Opener

The Santiago Canyon College women's volleyball team put together a strong showing against the No. 10 Orange Coast College Pirates at home for the squad's Orange Empire Conference (OEC) opener on Friday night. The Hawks were within striking distance in all three sets, but ultimately suffered a sweep.

The Hawks maintinad a steady lead in all three sets, but costly receiving errors and shaky passing led to the team's downfall. They spoiled a four-point advantage in the final set that saw the Pirates hammer the final nail in the Hawk's coffin, 27-25.

Leading the offense was sophomore setter Peyton Speakman who displayed one of the most well-rounded showings a setter can exhibit. She lofted up 23 assists while crouching down for a team-high 11 digs. She fed five different weapons and chipped in three kills, one service ace and a solo stuff at the net.

Speakman's main weapon was sophomore Chelsea Riedel who led her team with 10 kills on 35 attempts. It was Reidel's third-consecutive match where she notched double-digit kills and her second match in which she recorded double-digit digs. She tallied 10 digs tonight.

Sophomore Ashlyn Smith tried her arm 31 times which was the second most on the squad leading to a career-high seven kills. She recorded eight digs in the process as well.

Sophomore Sophie Ziglinski was the third head on the beast after hammering home four kills, while freshman Megan Morton chipped in three kills. Freshman Riley Bingel and Ziglinski each bagged one solo block.