In its Western State Conference opener at Cuesta College, the red-hot SBCC women’s volleyball team continued to shine, sweeping the Cougars 25-22, 25-19, 25-9 for its seventh consecutive win.

With their seventh sweep in the month of September alone, the Vaqueros improve to 12-2 overall. Cuesta falls to 8-4.

“We showed the depth of our team tonight as we played down several players and still were able to complete the sweep,” head coach Kat Niksto said. “We got off to a slow start in game one, but then Lily Krongold came in and was on fire. She led the team with six kills and added eight digs. Karoline Ruiz had another efficient night in the middle with five kills hitting .556.”

Fortunately for the 2021 Vaqueros, a “slow start” still leads to success, even against a team that had won five straight heading into Wednesday night.

After a close first set was decided by just three points, SBCC increased its distance in games two and three. The 25-9 win in set three was one of the most lopsided of the year for the Vaqueros, who held their opponent to single digits for the third time this year.

Right behind Krongold and Ruiz in the kills department with four apiece were Paige Rudi, Caroline McCarty, and even setter Emme Crabbe, who also finished with team-highs of 21 assists and two aces.

For the first time this season, the Vaqueros averaged over 20 digs per set as a team, posting 62 total digs (20.7 D/S). Their fleet-footed defense saw three different players reach double-digits, all of whom set new season-highs. They were led by Jordyn Anderson with 17 digs, followed by Lauren Holsted (14) and Piper Ellbogn-Petersen (12).

SBCC will look to make it eight straight wins when it returns home for Friday’s 6 p.m. matchup against L.A. Mission.

WOMEN’S WATER POLO BEATS VENTURA

Facing Ventura in its second conference game of 2021, the SBCC women’s water polo team started strong in each half to pull ahead in a tightly contested 10-9 win.

The Vaqueros improve to 11-3 overall and 2-0 in Western State Conference play. The Pirates are now 5-2 overall, 1-1 in conference.

“This was a great game. Jenna Olson contributed five assists, a season-high,” head coach Chuckie Roth said. “Ventura came out and played a good game. They clearly had a plan and executed it well.”

Olson facilitated what was a strong team effort on the offensive end, as driver Eden Tal and utility Charlize Winter both recorded hat tricks. Sophomore Allison Kay added two goals of her own.

After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, the Vaqueros found themselves in a close one with the Pirates eventually tying things at 5-5 early in the second half. SBCC ended the third quarter on a 4-2 run though, with Tal scoring twice and Olsen and Emily Lopez each scoring once.

Santa Barbara added to its run, with Kay’s second goal making it 10-7 to open the fourth quarter. The Vaqueros didn’t need to score again, allowing two goals in the final 70 minutes to hold on for the 10-9 win.

Goalkeeper Chloe Mckay recorded 10 saves for the second consecutive game, reaching double-figures for the sixth time this year.

With the win, SBCC improves to 3-1 this year in games decided by one goal. Tal leads the Vaqueros with seven goals in their first two conference games, followed by Kay with five.

MEN’S SOCCER ROUTS ELAC

The SBCC men’s soccer team continued its run of home dominance on Tuesday afternoon at La Playa Stadium, using a first half offensive explosion to cruise to a 6-2 victory over East Los Angeles.

Santa Barbara improves to 5-2-2 on the year, while the Huskies fall to 1-4-5.

Despite the fact the Vaqueros dominated for most of the day, the Huskies actually struck first just a few minutes in. A relaxed SBCC pass was intercepted in dangerous territory, leading to a 1-0 East LA lead in the 6th minute.

Over a wild next 30 minutes, the Vaqueros launched a frenzied attack.

Midfielder Paulo Carrillo-Weisenburger assisted on back-to-back goals in the 10th and 11th minutes. First, he led Bart Muns into the left side of the box where he slipped a shot under the keeper to equalize.

On the Vaqueros’ next possession, he found William Lindblom on the left wing. The forward faked right and beat his defender back to the left with a strong controlled dribble to set up his left-footed strike, firing a low controlled shot inside the far post, 2-1. 

In the 22nd minute, another incisive pass out of the midfield saw Muns into clear space on a 1-on-1 with the East LA keeper. Muns easily beat him with the dribble and was tripped up in the box, resulting in a yellow card and another scoring opportunity. Carrillo-Weisenburger stepped up to put the penalty away and make it 3-1.

SBCC refused to back off, needing less than two minutes to add to its lead yet again. Lindblom scored his second of the day, once again beating his defender on the left side before forcing a shot through traffic and into the back of the net.

The Vaqueros made it 5-1 in the 28th minute. Forward Will Demirkol took on three defenders into the box, slipping through with clever and concise dribbling in tight quarters. After being tripped up and earning another Vaquero penalty, he would take it upon himself to put away his lone score of the day from the spot.

Another goal from Muns in the 35th minute came off an assist by Lindblom, putting SBCC up 6-1.

WOMEN’S SOCCER BEATEN BY VENTURA

Freshman forward Theresa English put the SBCC women’s soccer team up 1-0 with a first half goal. However, facing Ventura in their WSC opener on the road, the Vaqueros would concede three second half scores in a 3-1 defeat.

Santa Barbara now holds a 4-4 overall record, while the Pirates improved to 7-2-1.

English’s goal was her second of the year, coming in the 33rd minute off an assist from sophomore forward Monica Pizano.

It was the first assist of the year for Pizano, who also leads the Vaqueros with four goals this season. She now has a team-high of nine points (4 goals, 1 assist).

Ventura would equalize in the 60th minute with a goal from Alix Tirado. Just three minutes later, Tiffany Hernandez recorded her second straight assist to setup Areanna Covarrubias and make it 2-1. The Pirates added one more goal in the 80th minute from Justice Jones.

SBCC freshman goalkeeper Analea Pule ended the day with six saves, her highest total in the last four games.