No. 24 Pierce stuns No. 8 Vaqueros 3-0

L.A. Pierce used big scoring runs near the end of each set on Wednesday night to pull off a 3-0 upset of No. 8 SBCC in a WSC North women's volleyball match at the Sports Pavilion.

The 25-21, 25-22, 25-17 defeat was the Vaqueros' first WSC loss this year and snapped their 11-match win streak. It also ended Santa Barbara's 16-match conference winning streak.

The Vaqueros, ranked No. 8 in the state, fell to 15-5 and 6-1 while the 24th-ranked Brahmas improved to 12-8 and 4-3. The Vaqueros are tied for first with Moorpark atop the WSC North.

SBCC had beaten Pierce twice on its home court -- 3-1 to win the Brahma Invitational on Sept. 27 and 3-2 in the WSC opener on Oct. 3.

"It's hard to beat a good team three times in a row," said coach Ed Gover. "Their backs were to the wall. If they lost tonight, they'd be out of the conference race and probably out of the playoffs. We knew they'd come out really strong. Everything was on the line for them and you have to hand it to them, they came prepared to play.

"Their passing was better than it was in the past and their serving was better. No. 23 had a great night."

No. 23 is Jessica Martinez and the 5-8 freshman led the Brahmas with 14 kills and a .467 hitting percentage. She and Sofia Mastro combined on a block that capped an 8-3 Pierce run and gave the Brahmas a 24-17 lead in the second set. SBCC reeled off five straight points before Martinez ended the set with a kill off the block.

Alissa La Rocca led the Vaqueros with nine kills and Katelynn Womack had seven. Madelon Leiphardt dug a season-high 18 balls and Eryn Young added 12 digs.

The Brahmas enjoyed leads for most of the night, pulling away in the first and third sets with closing runs of 7-2 in the first and 6-1 in the third. Left-hander Autumn Russell, who had 11 kills, ended the match with a kill off a back-row defender.

"Our passing was off and our serving wasn't crisp," Gover added. "If those two phases of the game are weak, you're going to struggle. They were strong in both areas and you have to tip your hat to Pierce. They won three state titles in a row (2010-12) and they're not going to back away from any challenge."

SBCC hosts Hancock on Friday at 6 p.m.