Women's Volleyball: RHC edges Palomar 3-2 at season-opening tourney

Rio Hondo College opened up the 2016 season with one win out of four matches at the second annual Pierce College Kickoff Classic tournament in Woodland Hills. The Roadrunners suffered a 3-0 loss to state finalist and host Pierce as well as a 3-1 defeat to Bakersfield College on Friday before bouncing back with a marathon 3-2 victory over Palomar College. RHC then closed out the tourney with a 3-0 loss to Pasadena City College.

Rio Hondo couldn't get much going offensively in a 25-12, 25-10, 25-18 loss to Pierce. Bree Newton, Paula Alferez, and Erika Mendoza all totaled three kills to lead RHC while Carleigh Cruz chipped in with eight digs.

The Roadrunners put together a much better match against Bakersfield, forcing three of the four sets into extra points. Unfortunately, Rio Hondo came out on the losing end of a 28-26, 25-19, 24-26, 28-26 defeat. Alferez had the big match, totaling 19 kills, 14 digs, and three aces. Newton also played well, contributing 17 kills and six digs. Tanya Metchkoff led RHC with 17 digs while Haley Brownwood had 41 assists, nine digs, and three aces.

Rio Hondo earned its first win of 2016 thanks to a 25-18, 18-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-11 victory over Palomar. Holding a narrow 11-10 lead in the fifth set, Rio Hondo closed out the win by scoring four of the final five points. This time it was Michelle Rosas who was impressive on offense as she led RHC with 18 kills to go with 12 digs. Metchkoff also had a good all-around match with 45 assists, 13 digs, and two aces. Cruz led Rio Hondo with 17 digs, Rachel Bustillos added 10 digs and four aces, while Victoria Martinez chipped in with nine kills and three blocks.

The Roadrunners couldn't keep the momentum going as they fell 25-16, 25-18, 25-19 to new South Coast Conference foe Pasadena on Saturday evening. Newton paced the offense once again with a team-high 10 kills, Metchkoff totaled 18 assists, and Cruz added 12 digs in Rio Hondo's final match of the tournament.

Rio Hondo, now 1-3, returns to the court on Wednesday (Aug. 31) when the Roadrunners travel to Orange Coast College for a pair of non-conference matches. Rio Hondo faces host OCC at 2 p.m. followed by a 4 p.m. match vs. College of the Desert. The Roadrunners are finally home on September 7 when they host Antelope Valley College at 5 p.m.