Facing her former team on Wednesday night, first-year Cerritos College volleyball coach Ashleigh Atsaros made quick work of Riverside City College in a 25-21, 25-15, 25-21 non-conference victory. The Falcons (2-0) will play their third straight home match on Friday at 6:00 p.m. when they host College of the Canyons. Atsaros spent the last four seasons coaching the Tigers.

In a back and forth first set, the teams traded the lead several times and were tied at 11-11 until the Falcons made the first move. A pair of kills by freshman Jordin Lewis (Warren HS), coupled with a service ace from freshman Gabriella Colombo (Cerritos HS) helped Cerritos open a 16-11 lead. Riverside City made their own run and got to within two points three times. But a kill from libero Roselyn Tobie (Maxine Waters HS) and an attack error gave the Falcons a 22-18 advantage. The Falcons closed out the first set on a bad set from the Tigers, with Tobie serving up an ace for set point.

Riding the momentum of the first set win, Cerritos started pulling away after the second set was tied, 4-4 and scored 10 of the next 12 points. Sophomore Daniela Luna (Walnut HS/Riverside City College) accounted for three kills during that scoring outburst and then withstood the Tigers trying to make a comeback, as the lead dwindled to 16-12. Cerritos was then able to return to their offensive success and closed out the set with points in nine of the final 12 serves.

Four lead changes and seven ties were in order for the third set, as Riverside City was looking to extand the match, with the Falcons hoping to avoid a fourth set. Tied at 16, Cerritos ran off five straight points, as Luna recorded two kills, with sophomore Evelyn Soto-Castro (Schurr HS) and freshman Tiffany Teats (Warren HS) each posting a kill. Clinging to a 23-21 lead, Teats recorded a kill, with Soto-Castro recording the team's 12th service ace of the night to cap off the win.

The trio of Lewis, Luna and freshman Elizabeth Beltran (Santa Fe HS) all had 10 kills in the win, while Soto-Castro recorded five kills and three service aces to go along with her 31 assists from her setter position. Luna, who had just one attack error, hit a stellar .474, while the team hit a strong .297 in the match. Tobie led the back row with 19 digs to go along with her six assists, while Teats finished with eight kills.

Photos by Daryl Peterson