No. 12 Lady Chargers Rally to Defeat Gauchos in Five Set Thriller

CYPRESS, CA – Cypress volleyball (6-2, 2-0 OEC) won in comeback fashion tonight on Don Johnson Court to defeat the Gauchos (6-5, 1-2 OEC), remaining undefeated in conference play. Saddleback came out strong with the first two sets on the night, but the Chargers did not go down easy coming out victorious in five sets (23-25, 21-25, 28-26, 25-22, 15-10).

To start off the match both sides went point for point, neither team having more than a three-point lead. Cypress' middle blocker, Mary Hicks, had a huge kill to gain the lead back for her team at 11-10. Hicks, along with sophomore Savannah Johnson, had a hot start on the night with several kills and a solo block. Cypress started to pull away before Saddleback's hot hand, Kenzie Huston, put down a pair of kills to give her team the lead, which would allow them to eventually go on and take the first set.

In set two, the Gauchos made more of an impact to start the game with a 5-0 serving run to get out ahead. Saddleback was able to capitalize on some holes in the Charger defense to take the second one from Cypress with a strong offensive presence.

The Chargers would not go down easy though. Cypress' outside hitter, Alondra Lamas, put down clutch kills in the game giving her team back the momentum. Her teammate, Ashley Cordona, followed up with a great serving run along with a few diving plays to maintain the lead over the Gauchos. Both teams fought to the end of game three as we went back-and-forth to end up tied, 24-24. Once again, Cypress' defense dug deep, Lauren Adamo and Brittany Zavala, put on a performance late as the Chargers went on to win, 28-26.

With the crowd on the edge of their seat, both teams continued to fight for each point. Cypress freshman, Alexis Flores, came in with a pair of kills and back-to-back blocks. Eventually, the set would come down to the wire again with the Gauchos' match point on the line, but Adamo came through in the back row once more to send her team to the fifth and final set of the night. 

Cypress took control of the fifth set and maintained the lead throughout. After several nail-biting rallies, including Adamo's pancake save, Rachel Burney would put down an ace for a hard-fought Charger victory over the Gauchos, 3-2.

The Lady Chargers will be back in action Wednesday, October 2^nd at Golden West set to start at 6:00 pm.

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