Clark’s Valiant Effort Not Enough as Warriors Drop Second Straight Home Match

TORRANCE, Calif. – Mikayla Clark had a career night but her strong effort was not enough as El Camino College fell to visiting Cypress College 3-1 (20-25, 26-24, 29-27, 25-17) in a non-conference tilt Friday night at the ECC South Gym.

The Warriors (2-3) dropped their second straight home match in very similar fashion, winning the first set before falling in three straight. On Friday, the Warriors and Chargers (3-1) were neck-and-neck in the middle sets as both needed to go a little extra to be decided.

Clark finished the night with a match and career-high 22 kills to go along with a career-high 20 digs, her fourth double-double in five matches this season. Caitlin Donatucci dished out 46 assists to go along with 11 digs to notch another double-double for herself and Kelly Donatucci added 20 digs in the loss. The Warriors tallied 79 digs as a team, the second time they've recorded more than 70 digs as a team and fourth time they've recorded more than 60.

In the second set, the Warriors were outhit .406 to .146 but still hung tough in a set where no team led by more than two points at any juncture in the game. The Chargers pulled off a three-point spurt to take a 21-19 lead and they'd eventually tie the match at a set apiece on an attacking error by the Warriors.

The third set proved backbreaking as the teams once again went back-and-forth, requiring extra volleyball for the set to be settled. The Warriors had three set points in the final stretch, but the Chargers had an answer each time and then Brittany Zavala's fourth kill of the frame sealed the game for the Chargers and gave them a 2-1 lead.

The Chargers used a 13-3 scoring run in the third set to pull away and eventually down the Warriors in four sets.

The Warriors will get right back to work on Saturday morning as they hit the road to take on Fullerton in a Saturday contest. First serve is set for 10 a.m.