Panthers Push Match to Five Sets in IEAC Opener

The Chaffey College volleyball team battled through a hard-fought five-set match at the Sports Center on Wednesday night but fell just short, 3-2, against Victor Valley College (22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-10). The Panthers showed resilience and balanced production across all rotations, pushing the match the distance in their Inland Empire Athletic Conference opener.

The Rams opened strong, claiming the first two sets before the Panthers found its momentum midway through the match. Chaffey fought back with a gritty 25-23 win in the third set, fueled by strong hitting from Bria Love and Emma Rhodes. Love led the offense with a personal-best and match-high 18 kills and contributed 13 digs, while Rhodes followed with eight kills and a block assist.

In the fourth set, Chaffey carried that momentum forward, evening the match behind steady contributions from Lauren Medina and Kasey Quevedo, who combined for 12 kills and key defensive stops at the net. Grace Hoang led the backcourt with a personal-best and match-high 23 digs and served seven aces, while Madalyn Ayers-Morris and Natalia Frausto directed the offense with 33 combined assists.

The decisive fifth began evenly, with Chaffey matching Victor Valley point for point until a late rally from the Rams secured the win. The Panthers finished with 14 team aces and six team blocks, showing defensive determination throughout the contest. Despite the setback, the Panthers' five-set battle highlighted their growing cohesion and ability to respond under pressure.

The Panthers now stand 0-1 in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference and will look to bounce back when they return home to host San Bernardino Valley College on Wednesday, October 8, at 5 p.m.