WVB: Womack lifts Vaqueros over Glendale

Katelynn Womack notched a season-high 17 kills and hit .448 to lead SBCC to a 3-0 women’s volleyball win over Glendale at the Sports Pavilion. The scores were 25-18, 25-16, 25-13.

The 10th-ranked Vaqueros improved to 5-4 while Glendale fell to 2-9.

Womack narrowly missed a double-double with nine digs. Eryn Young tied her career best with 24 digs. Taylor Badois added seven kills and four blocks (three solo) with a .353 hitting percentage.

“We played together as a team really well and our chemistry is starting to build up,” said Badois, a 5-11 sophomore middle from Maui, Hawaii. “We have a lot of fun out there. I love blocking, it’s one of my favorite things.”

Tristen Thompson broke open a tight first set with a five-point service run that turned a two-point lead into a 23-16 advantage. Womack capped the opening set with a kill from the 10-foot line.

The Vaqueros jumped ahead 11-2 in the second set, thanks to nice service runs from Young and Thompson. Badois got a roof block to boost the lead to 15-5. Paige Sabin capped the 25-18 win with a solo block in the middle.

“We got some separation late in the first set and that’s what we look for,” said coach Ed Gover. “We want to patient and side out and then wait until the runs happen.

“We got a big run by Tristen early in the second set (7 straight points) and then we got a few more runs and it was game over.”

Thompson had an ace early in the third set and Badois blocked a ball to cap an opening 10-4 burst. The lead grew to 15 points (24-9) on blocks by Womack and Badois. Alexandra Tuleja ended the match with a two-hand push on second contact that landed in the middle of the court.

The Vaqueros will play in the L.A. Pierce Invitational on Friday and Saturday, opening against No. 17 San Diego Mesa on Friday at 4 p.m.