SMCC Women's Volleyball Downs Williston State in Season-Opening Homestand

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College women's volleyball (2-7, 0-1 ACCAC) opened its 2024 home campaign with three matches last week, falling 3-2 to Mesa CC and 3-1 to Highland CC while defeating Williston State College 3-0. Sophomore Rylea Simonich had 47 kills over the three matches and set new career-highs with 19 kills and 17 digs against the Thunderbirds in the ACCAC opener on Aug. 28. Fellow sophomore Hope Williamson also set a new career best with 19 kills against the Thunderbirds and a third sophomore, Ayanna Rae LeBlanc, had double-digit kills against Mesa CC and Highland CC. 

Mesa CC Recap

The Cougars and Thunderbirds engaged in a five-set thriller in the Cougars' conference opener on Aug. 28. Ultimately, the Thunderbirds prevailed for a 3-2 victory: 21-25, 25-21, 19-25, 26-24, 15-9. 

SMCC hit .182 over the five sets, totaling 70 kills on 225 attacks. The Cougars added 68 assists, 11 service aces, 118 digs, three solo blocks, and 10 block assists. 

Simonich hit .250 on 56 swings to set a new career high with 19 kills. Her 17 digs were also a new career best, and she added three service aces. 

Williamson finished with a blistering .372 hitting percentage on 43 swings to set a new career high with 19 kills. She added a career-high 27 assists, two service aces, nine digs, and two block assists to record her second career double-double. 

LeBlanc had 11 kills on 38 attacks and added six digs, three block assists, and one solo block. Freshman Bailee Baca added nine kills and set a new season high with 24 digs, while freshman Amanda Mitan had five kills, three digs, and two block assists. 

Sophomore Raegan Moran led SMCC with 29 assists and added two kills, two service aces, and 13 digs for her first double-double as a Cougar. Sophomore Mikelle McAfee set new career highs with 42 digs and 11 assists, and sophomore Savannah Collings chipped in three kills, one dig, one solo block, and two block assists. 

Williston State Recap

SMCC bounced back quickly after the MCC loss, sweeping Williston State College 3-0 on Aug. 29: 25-11, 25-11, 25-10. The Cougars hit a sizzling .354 with 37 kills, 37 assists, 14 service aces, 48 digs, one solo block, and two block assists. 

Simonich led the charge offensively, posting 13 kills and hitting .542 on 24 attacks. She added 11 digs for her second-straight double-double. Freshman Reagen Blair was second on the team with eight kills, hitting .312 on 16 attacks. She added three service aces and two digs. 

Freshman Abby Kilpatrick posted five kills on nine swings, and LeBlanc posted four kills, two assists, one service ace, three digs, and one solo block. Moran led SMCC with 20 assists and added four service aces and six digs. 

McAfee recorded 20 digs and added six assists and three service aces. Freshman Ailynn Solis had five assists and one kill, and Williamson had two kills, four assists, one service ace, and one dig. 

Highland CC Recap

The Cougars fell to the Scotties in four sets in a home match on Aug. 29: 19-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-12. SMCC finished with 45 kills and hit .148 in 149 swings. The Cougars added 44 assists, 12 service aces, 65 digs, one solo block, and 14 block assists. 

Simonich led SMCC with 15 kills on 45 swings to finish with a .156 hitting percentage. She recorded 11 digs for her third-straight double-double and added one assist, service ace, and block assist over the four sets. 

LeBlanc was second on the team with 10 kills, hitting .250 on 20 attacks. She added three service aces, three digs, and five block assists. Williamson and Collings had four kills apiece, with Williamson adding 20 assists, two service aces, five digs, and two block assists, and Collings chipping in two block assists. 

McAfee led SMCC with 27 digs, adding four assists and two service aces. Moran totaled 19 assists, two service aces, and six digs, while freshmen Alyssa Szymanski and Baca had three kills.