Cats settle for a split

The Saddleback women's beach volleyball team split two matches at Golden West College on Friday in Huntington Beach.  The Bobcats fell to Golden West, 3-2, before bouncing back with a 5-0 win against Santa Ana.

The opening match for Saddleback was a big one as they were hoping to knock off first place Golden West and claim a piece of first place in the Orange Empire Conference.  The Bobcats made a good showing but came up short in the fifth and final match in falling, 3-2, to the Rustlers. 

Saddleback was the first to get on the board when the pairing of Cori Willcoxson and Kayla Ostovar won 21-14, 21-18 at the 2's for the early lead.  The Bobcats then lost the next two matches at the 4's and 1's, meaning they would have to win the final two matches for a team win.  The Bobcats were successful in the first part of the equation when Nicole Hylton and Hannah Ray teamed for a 21-19, 21-15 win at the 3's, but couldn't win the final match at the 5's as Golden West held on to sole possession of first place in the conference.

Saddleback then made quick work of Santa Ana in the second match, sweeping past the Dons 5-0.  Willcoxson and Ostovar (pictured) were big winners in cruising to a 21-8, 21-5 victory.  The Bobcats swept every match 2-0 in rebounding from the opening match loss.

Saddleback is now 7-6 overall and 7-2 in Orange Empire Conference play.  The Bobcats are now tied with Orange Coast College for second place in conference play, two games back of Golden West.

Saddleback will play again next Friday at Fullerton College at 11:00 AM.