Mesa Leads After First Round of Play

Photo: San Diego Mesa College Athletics
Photo: San Diego Mesa College Athletics
Posted: Oct 14, 2024
SAN DIEGO, CA (10/14/2024) -- As the first round of Pacific Coast Athletic Conference women's volleyball matches wraps up, San Diego Mesa College leads the pack with a perfect 8-0 record. The Olympians have been dominant throughout the first half of the season, placing them firmly within the state's top 25 rankings.

San Diego Mesa Shines at the Top

No. 5 San Diego Mesa College (8-0, 15-1 overall) has showcased its offensively and defensive strength, winning seven of its eight matches in straight sets. The Olympians secured a pivotal 3-0 win over MiraCosta College on October 2 and a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Palomar College on October 4.

Key to Mesa's success has been the standout performances from several players:

  • Halen Kiefer has been a force at the net, leading the team with 83 kills and a hitting percentage of .233. She averages 3.46 kills per set.
  • Bella Town has also been critical, contributing 72 kills with a .237 hitting percentage, and an impressive 3.13 kills per set​.
  • Setter Jaiden Mojica has quarterbacked the offense with 220 assists, averaging 10.48 assists per set, making her one of the most consistent setters in the conference​.
  • On the defensive end, Kiefer and Mojica have combined for over 150 digs, while Isabella Barrios leads the team in blocks with a total of 19​.

MiraCosta's Strong Challenge

Trailing closely behind, No. 25 MiraCosta College sits at 7-1 after the first round of play. Their only loss came in their highly anticipated matchup against San Diego Mesa. The Spartans, however, have rebounded, winning their last three matches to stay in the title hunt​.

Leading MiraCosta's efforts is outside hitter Daysha Halbert, who has racked up an impressive 120 kills with a hitting percentage of .355. Halbert averages 4.14 kills per set, placing her among the top scorers in the conference​.

  • Alexis Jones has been a solid contributor with 62 kills and 2.90 digs per set, showing her versatility on both offense and defense​.
  • Setter Megan Jo Martin has been a key playmaker for the Spartans, with 249 assists, averaging 8.59 assists per set.

Grossmont and Palomar in the Mix

No. 7 Grossmont College (6-2) and No. 25 Palomar College (5-3) also remain within striking distance. Grossmont has had a consistent first half, but they'll need to pick up crucial wins in the second round to challenge for the title. Meanwhile, Palomar pushed San Diego Mesa to five sets in their first meeting, showing they can shake things up in the second half.

As the second round of conference play kicks off, all eyes are on whether anyone can topple the undefeated Mesa squad. The competition promises to heat up with rematches and playoff implications on the line.