Volleyball Sees Winning Streak End, IEAC Title Still in Reach

The MSJC volleyball team split their two matches last week, but remain in first place in the IEAC standings with two games remaining.  (Jerry Lee Palad-MSJC)
The MSJC volleyball team split their two matches last week, but remain in first place in the IEAC standings with two games remaining. (Jerry Lee Palad-MSJC)

The MSJC volleyball team lost a five set heartbreaker on Wednesday night, but fought back for a win on Friday to stay in a first place tie in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference standings.

The Eagles and the Wolverines of San Bernardino Valley had an epic struggle on Wednesday night in San Jacinto with SBVC pulling out the victory in 5 sets.  The Wolverines jumped out to the lead winning the opening set 25-19, but MSJC came back to take the second 25-20 and the third 28-26.  SBVC would win the marathon 4th set 32-30 and then ride that momentum into set five where they defeated the Eagles 15-11.

Mckenna Conklin had a big match for MSJC as she knocked down 19 kills and picked up 15 digs.  Carley Kruse added 18 kills and 13 digs for the Eagles.  Trysta Vincelli had 41 assists in the match while Megan Gajda picked up a team high 18 digs and Hailey Frary had a pair of solo blocks and 4 block assists.

On Friday the Eagles bounced right back to easily defeat Copper Mountain 25-4, 25-11, and 25-12.  Kruse led the way in kills with 7, Frary had 6, and Conklin and Lauren Cummings both had 4.  Kalia Anady dished out 13 assists and Lilly Galvan had 7 digs.

The Eagles are now 20-5 overall and 9-1 in IEAC play, they are currently tied with SBVC for first place in the league standings.  MSJC does however, hold the tie-breaker edge over the Wolverines.  MSJC plays twice this week to complete the regular season.  Wednesday the Eagles will travel to Chaffey and Friday MSJC hosts Victor Valley on Sophomore Night.  Both matches begin at 5 pm.