SYLMAR – After a tough start to the 2023 season, the Rio Hondo College women's volleyball team is getting back on track.

After dropping its first two matches of the year, the Roadrunners have won four of their last five, including three over the weekend at the Los Angeles Mission College Kickoff Classic. Rio Hondo opened the two-day tourney on Friday with a pair of sweeps, earning 3-0 victories over Citrus (25-15, 25-23, 25-22) and LA Pierce (25-9, 25-12, 25-23) colleges.

The Roadrunners kept the momentum going on Saturday morning, picking up their fourth straight sweep by beating San Bernardino Valley College 26-24, 25-8, 25-16.

Rio Hondo appeared to be on its way to another victory in the tourney finals but couldn't close out No. 11 state-ranked Cypress College and fell in five sets (25-22, 25-14, 21-25, 15-25, 15-13) to snap its streak.

Despite the tough loss to a ranked opponent, head coach Teddi Esko was proud of her team's effort and how her team is coming together.

"This team is special," she said. "They have set their goals and are putting in the work to reach them.   We entered the Kickoff Classic with the intent to grow as a team on and off the court. We absolutely accomplished that and are now ready to enter our last week of pre-season play."

The Roadrunners got contributions from all over the court as Esko mentioned standouts from the weekend:

"Setters Madison Mader and Carly Kejmar did a terrific job running the offense. Libero Herlinda Casanova was a huge consistent first contact for the squad. And leading the way offensively was Maria Bejines, Jade Fuentes, and Loren Forster."

Rio Hondo, now 4-3 overall, returns to action on Wednesday (Sep. 6O when the Roadrunners travel to Santa Ana College for a 6 p.m. non-conference match.