Rams volleyball squeaks by Hartnell Panthers

October 19, 2016February 25, 2020 The Guardsman

By Dakari Thomas

After losing two of the first three volleyball sets, the Rams roared back against the Hartnell College Panthers on Oct. 12 by dominating the fourth and fifth sets for a 3-2 set win.

The Rams came out and seemed to set the tone early, forcing a game-high nine errors while only committing three themselves. With nine kills, City went on to take the first set 25-12.

But the Rams were driven back following two hard-fought sets that saw Rams freshman outside hitter Jennifer Quarters-Styles imposing her will with an impressive 11 kills, but to no avail.

Jennifer Quarters-Styles, outside hitter, seams to be floating as she spikes the ball back to Hartnell College at the Wellness Center at Ocean Campus on October 12, 2016. Photo by Franchon Smith/The Guardsman — Jennifer Quarters-Styles, outside hitter, seams to be floating as she spikes the ball back to Hartnell College at the Wellness Center at Ocean Campus on October 12, 2016. (Photo by Franchon Smith/The Guardsman)

Despite the Rams efforts, the Panthers’ stout defense rallied them with 32 block assists and two solo blocks, taking the second and the third set 25-21 and 25-22 respectively. The offensive production dropped in these sets, with low kill percentages of only 0.29 in the second set and 0.18 in the third.

This would wake the Rams up, as they went on to commit only one error with a whopping 17 kills and 0.42 kill percentage.

Quarter-Styles and fellow freshman Isoke Springer brought the team together with key digs that turned some points for the opposition into opportunities for the Rams.

Rams libero, freshman Isoke Springer celebrates a great play and score against Hartnell College at the Wellness Center at Ocean Campus on October 12, 2016. Photo by Franchon Smith/The Guardsman — Rams libero freshman Isoke Springer celebrates a great play and score against Hartnell College at the Wellness Center at Ocean Campus on October 12, 2016. Photo by Franchon Smith/The Guardsman

In the crucial deciding fifth set, freshman Pamela Dungo set up sophomore Kijana Best for the game-winning kill to win 15-11.

Now with a 13-2 record and ranked 15 by the California Community College Women’s Volleyball Association state volleyball poll, the Rams are gearing up for a deep run in the playoffs.

The Oct. 14 game against West Valley College was canceled due to poor weather and will be rescheduled at a later date.

The Rams will next face off at home against Napa Valley College on Oct. 19 and on the road against College of San Mateo on Oct. 21.