Stockton, Ca
Pirates had a strong showing at the Delta Classic Tournament this past weekend. This elite tournament of 16 teams featured NorCal top 13 (10 ranked in top 25 of State).
MJC opened play Friday morning against #3 in the State, Fresno City College. Pirates fought in a 3 set loss (20-25, 22-25, 19-25). Leading the offense was setter Lanai Torres (Orestimba HS) with 26 assists and opposite Lily Clemmer-Gillum (Central Catholic HS) with 9 kills. Ava Chiesa (Turlock HS) and Brynn Rowell (Turlock HS) each had 11 digs.
Next up for the Pirates was fellow Big 8 conference member, Santa Rosa JC. Pirates took down the state ranked #25 Bear Cubs in 5 sets (11-25, 28-26, 25-22, 21-25, 15-6). Torres earned a career and season high 59 assists. Clemmer-Gillum again led in kills with 18. All attackers for the pirates scored double digit kills: Chiesa 16, Alyssa Stiles (Ceres HS) 10, Mikayla Kaufhardt (El Capitan HS) 10, and Elizabeth Johnson (Turlock HS) 10. Rowel led the defense with 33 digs and Kaufhardt added 2 solo blocks and 3 block assists. Chiesa earned her 12th career double-double by adding 17 digs.
Saturday started with the Pirates facing the Butte College Roadrunners. Pirates came in as the underdogs as the Roadrunners are state ranked "Best of the Rest". Pirates got the 4 set win (25-13, 25-12, 21-25, 25-18). Torres ran an efficient offense with 35 assists with a team .219 attack percentage. Chiesa and Johnson led all attackers with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Rowell and Kaufhardt again led the defense. Rowell 15 digs, Kaufhardt 3 total blocks.
With the win against Butte, Pirates earned their way to the Consolation Championship match against another Big 8 Conference member, Sierra College. Sierra comes into the tournament ranked state #16, NorCal #7. Pirates struggled to get their offense going and lost in 3 (15-25, 20-25, 18-25). Stiles led with 7 kills, hitting an impressive .636 hitting percentage. Torres added 21 assists, giving her 1012 career assists. Chiesa and Rowell got 13 digs each.
Up next for Pirates:
9/14 Butte and Ohlone at Cosumnes River
9/16 Big 8 Conference begins - State #1 American River at MJC Gym