Hawks Defend Their Nest With Split

SACRAMENTO (9-7) - After splitting a double header in San Mateo on Wednesday, the Hawks returned home for another two matches in non-conference play. The Hawks took on De Anza College in their first match of the day followed by College of the Siskiyous. These matches marked the last home games of the non-conference for Cosumnes River.

The first match was a back and forth game in which the Hawks fell in five sets to the visiting Dons. Cosumnes River College took the first set 25-23. The offense hit .220 while earning fourteen kills on forty-one attempts. The defense also contributed twenty-three digs during the first set alone. A lack of intensity hurt the Hawks during the second set in which they fell 25-12. Rebounding for the third set, the Hawks combined for twelve kills and twenty-two digs for the third set victory. Cosumnes River took the third set 25-21. The fourth set saw another lull for the Hawks in which they fell 25-19, thus forcing a deciding fifth set. Another slow start was the demise for the Hawks in the fifth. Despite making a comeback, the Hawks fell 15-10. Rebakkah McLaughlin lead the Hawks with thirty-four assists for the first match. She also contributed eight kills and lead the team with twenty-eight digs as well as three service aces. Outside hitter Kylie Pires led the offensive attack with seventeen kills on forty-four attempts which was good for a .278 kill percentage. Freshman Taryn Oberle contributed ten kills on twenty seven attempts, which lead the Hawks with a .296 hitting percentage. Sophomore Elizabeth Smith put up four blocks.

After a short break, the Hawks battled against the visiting Eagles in another five set match. Fired up, the Hawks stormed out to a 25-11 first set victory. During the first set, the Hawks combined for four blocks and four service aces. The Hawks' offense struggled during the second set in which the team combined for a .063 hit percentage. The Hawks ultimately fell by the score of 25-18 despite staging a comeback towards the end of the set. Flipping the script, the Hawks hit .290 in the third set, combining for thirteen kills with only four errors. Pires and Oberle led the offense with six and five kills, respectively, for the Hawks. The fourth set was back and forth in which the Hawks hit .093. Despite the hitting percentage, the score was decided by only two points in favor the Eagles at 25-23. A determined Hawks squad came out for the fifth set. The Hawks combined for four blocks in the shortened set along with seven kills. Cosumnes River came out victorious with a score of 15-7, earning them their fifth win of the season. 

Pires once again lead the Hawks offense with seventeen kills. Oberle contributed nine kills on twenty-nine attempts. McLaughlin and Madison Jayne chipped in with six kills apiece. Freshman opposite hitter Ashanti Cason had five kills and lead the team with a .364 hit percentage. On the defensive side, Abby Hicks lead the Hawks with seventeen digs. McLaughlin also contributed sixteen digs as well as thirty-nine assists to go along with her kills. Freshman Larissa Vogelbacher also contributed nine digs as a defensive specialist for Cosumnes River. 

Players of the Game:

Up Next-The Hawks will travel to Salinas on Wednesday to take on Hartnell College at 1 pm and Cuesta College at 3 pm