Esquivel Shines In State #10 Volleyball's 4th Straight Win

After being a key hitter during the 2021 South Coast Conference championship season, Sabiya Esquivel took time off from the sport only to return this season as a role player for the '25 Lancers. On Wednesday, she had her best performance as a sophomore in hammering 10 kills and landing two aces in state #10-ranked PCC's fourth consecutive sweep over El Camino, 25-14, 25-20, 25-21, at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

The 5-foot-3 Esquivel scored all three set-clinching points, hitting .368 and adding six digs defensively v. the Warriors (5-7). Her veteran presence also was a reminder of her All-SCC Second Team season four years earlier when she was a high-energy cog on a 23-2 Pasadena squad, the best in Coach Mike Terrill's first eight seasons directing the program. That team set state history with the most victories in winning any conference title at a perfect 18-0. 

The last time Esquivel reached double digits in kills was in '21 when she scored 13 in a 5-set victory over Mt. San Antonio that clinched the then SCC Tournament title when the conference was a 9-team league. The South Coast went back to 10 teams since last season, creating 5-team divisions with PCC in the North Division. 

PCC upped its overall record to 10-3 and now 8-1 at "The Patt."

The Lancers' middle blockers were also huge against ECC as Delaney Blied ripped nine kills (hit .600) while Savannah Curtis scored seven kills (.417), making a career-best four solo blocks and six stuffs overall. Opposite Mahrie Bedjakian added three blocks.

Bobbie Torres delivered eight kills, five digs and two aces and libero Juyeon Lee defended a match-high 18 digs. Setter Melissa Monterroza totaled 19 assists plus two aces while Jayleen Almaraz started a few scoring runs with her serving, which included back-to-back aces in one stretch in the opening set.

Curtis passed the 100-blocks mark as a Lancer. She is a returning All-SCC Second Team selection and currently leads the entire conference in blocks average at 0.97, the same average she attained last season. Other current SCC leaders from PCC are Payton Scott with 125 kills, Blied in hitting percentage at .455, and Monterozza in assists average per set with a 7.39 clip.

This Friday, Sept. 26, PCC hosts "Youth Night" with youth groups encouraged to attend free of charge as the Lancers host LA Harbor College. First serve is 6 p.m.