By John Sherrard
(WALNUT) You had to see it to believe it. What a come-from-behind win it was for the South Coast Conference North, first-place Mounties Friday night.
The night was dubbed "Super Hero Night" by Coach Ali Carey-Oliver and games three, four and five sported many hero's to pull off the match of the year as they defeated visiting Pasadena City College, 21-25, 21-25, 25-9, 25-14, 15-9, Friday night before a loud home crowd.
Both teams came into the match with 3-0 records, looking to gain an advantage heading into the second half of conference play.
Mt. SAC, winners of five straight matches, improves to 12-1 overall and 4-0 in conference, while PCC suffered its first loss in five games and falls to 10-6 and 3-1.
"We're comfortable coming from behind," said an excited Carey-Oliver, who was dressed up with a theme-night "Wonder Woman" shirt. "We don't freak out about it. You've got to play the game."
Leading the way for Mt. SAC was sophomore outside hitter Makenzie Thieme with 12 kills and one service ace. Sophomore outside hitter Haley English had an all-around outstanding game with nine kills, five assists, two services aces and six digs.
Trailing two games to none, the Mounties never gave up and came out in the third game, after a fan appreciation volleyball-serving contest...and the comeback was on.
The Lancers scored the first point of game three but that was it for quite a while as the Mounties blitzed them and ran off an unheard of 14 consecutive points to lead, 14-1.
Sophomore setter Caroline Urquieta, who had 26 assists, three kills, six service aces and three digs, was serving during that amazing run. Included in that streak of double-digit points was two big kills on consecutive plays by Thieme.
"It was definitely a nail-biter," said Thieme, of the nerve-wracking match. "Going into the third game we were all kind of doing our own thing. Going into the team room (during the planned delay) we just kind of brought the team together."
Later in the game with the Mounties leading, 18-6, English almost served out the game with six straight points.
PCC would lose the game on an error into the net and Mt. SAC trailed 2-1 in games.
Game four was back and forth with neither team having more than a three-point lead until Mt. SAC took a 16-12 lead on a kill by sophomore outside hitter Erica Gumz, who had five in the match.
After a PCC time out, the Mounties outscored the Lancers, 9-3, to win the game going away and even up the match at 2-2.
In the run, middle blocker Jordon Wilson had two huge kills to light up the crowd and team.
"Jordon came up big," Carey-Oliver said. "Jordon played to win when it really mattered."
The freshman had nine kills on 16 attempts for the match and four blocks.
"We just got some fire (game three)," Wilson said. "Coach was saying (between games two and three) just do what we do. Don't over play the game."
The Mounties trailed only twice in the fifth and deciding set and took the lead for good, 8-5, on a kill by Thieme.
They would outscore PCC, 7-4, to win going away to remain first in conference.
The Mounties travel to Cerritos (7-7, 2-1, SCC South) on Wednesday and are home next Friday against El Camino (12-3, 4-0, SCC South).
It will be "Breast Cancer Awareness Night" next Friday.
For more information contact Mt. SAC Sports Information at 909.274.4630.