Playing in rare back-to-back matches on Friday, the Cerritos College volleyball team dropped a pair of matches in San Diego. The Falcons (3-3), competing in the San Diego Mesa Quad, opened with a tough five-set loss to MiraCosta College, 20-25, 16-25, 25-15, 25-21, 14-16 before a three-set loss to the host Olympians (14-25, 10-25, 22-25) capped off their day. The team will travel to Los Angeles Mission College on Wednesday for a 6:00 p.m. non-conference match.

Earlier in the week, Cerritos won the first two sets against Palomar College, but saw them drop a five-set match, and were looking to switch their fortune against the Spartans. Down 2-0 in sets, the Falcons rallied back and extended the match to a fifth set, but were unable to record the key points to complete the reverse sweep. The Falcons were playing once again without freshman starter Elizabeth Beltran (Santa Fe HS).

Led by the duo of freshmen Tiffany Teats (Warren HS) and Jordin Lewis (Warren HS), as well as sophomore Daniela Luna (Walnut HS/Riverside City College), the Falcons fought back after their backs were against the wall. Teats and Lewis combined for 26 kills, while Luna added 11 kills and just two attack errors to pace the rally. Sophomore Evelyn Soto-Castro (Schurr HS) played a dual role in the comeback, as she contributed six kills and four block assists on the outside after opening the match as the team's setter and recorded 22 assists. Freshman Emma Rivera (Mayfair HS) took over setter duties and accounted for 16 assists. Freshman Roselyn Tobie (Maxine Waters HS) also made a position adjustment and finished with a team-high 17 digs from her libero position and was able to add to the offense with her six kills and no attack errors from the outside.

Possibly drained after their five-set match, Cerritos went against a well-rested Olympians team and had just an .094 hitting percentage. Lewis had a team-high seven kills, while Tobie produced five kills for the Falcons. Soto-Castro resumed her full-time setting duties and passed out 13 assists while recording a trio of kills.