Vanlandingham-led Griffins sweep Riverside

2018 GROSSMONT COLLEGE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

 

By Dave Dickens

EastCountySports.com

 

RIVERSIDE (9-12-2018) – After dropping a tough one in a nail-biting 3-2 loss last weekend to Moorpark, the Grossmont College Lady Griffins practiced hard, and infused a mind-wipe to mentally prepare for a road trip to Riverside, to battle the Tigers.

Not only was this going to be a bounce-back game for the team, but it ended up being a special afternoon for one of the Lady Griffins, which has been lights out on the court.

However, if you try to single out any of these young lady athletes, they will quickly refer you to the age old saying, “No ‘I’ in team.”

The Griffins won the match 3-0 over host Riverside Community College.

Grossmont began the opening set with a minor miscue as superstar sophomore SHANEY LIPSCOMB made a slight miscalculation error on the attack that led to a 1-0 Riverside lead early.

Sophomore ALEXIS (LEXI) VANLANDINGHAM initiated the first kill of the afternoon from the assist specialist, KYLEE SNYDER, making it 1-1 early in the first set. Kylee ended the evening with an impressive 24 assists, in which Snyder has led the Griffins in that category often, which can be overlooked.

Lipscomb, the vocal fuel for the Griffins, and typically the terror twin of sophomore Vanlandingham, ignited the fire on the floor, as she served up an ace and broke the early 1-1 tie, making it Grossmont, 2-1.

As Alexis went up for the block, it was unsuccessful, point Riverside, 2-2 tie in the first set early.

Grossmont would continue to be quite effective with some assistance from Tiger miscues, and a couple of kills initiated by the Lady Griffin of the week Vanlandingham.

The Griffins would go on to take the first set, 25-18.

Set two was a back-and-forth affair up until the Griffins scored seven-straight, to lead, 8-3.

JEN ORBITA served up a few beauty aces, and NAOMI LEILA tacked on a couple of special kills.

The Griffins were able to hold on in the second set, 25-20, and finish off the sweep, 25-18.

The up-and-coming JULIA HOLDEN was on fire in the last set with quite a few kills, ending the match with seven. Leilua added an impressive nine kills, one ace, six Digs, and 10 points.

Most importantly, there were two great honors this week for the Lady Griffins, as they are now ranked eighth in the state and Vanlandingham scored big, as the former Granite Hills Eagle was chosen as the Player of the Week for week No. 2 by the CCCWVCA for Southern California.

Lexi has led her 7-1 Griffins, in four matches last week, totaling 37 kills and a .377 hitting percentage.

Vanlandingham had 11 kills and five blocks as Grossmont defeated Cypress last week.

Also, she had eight kills in Grossmont’s first triumph on the road at Saddleback last week.

“All of this is just very exciting to me,” Vanlandingham said. “I am so proud of our team for what we have been able to
accomplish so early in the season and I am just so thankful to be a part of a team that works so
hard and is so supportive of one another.

“Being selected as Player of the week was very humbling and such great motivation. My teammates and I have worked really hard in the offseason. I (worked) extra hard as well because I wanted to make a difference and come in this year as a new and improved player.

“Being recognized for all the hard work feels so good and I owe it to all the hard work, and being surrounded by the most supportive family, coaches, teammates, and friends I could ask for. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today and
for that I feel truly blessed.

“When I found out this humbling news, I was so surprised. It’s funny because that morning at practice I had felt off. I was mentally drained and was just not feeling like myself. As practice concluded and before one of my classes, I walked into Coach Ivers’ office to grab some gear and she had told me she had just been notified that I received the honor.

“I wasn’t sure what she was talking about at first and then when I figured it out, I was overwhelmed with happiness.

“It was like reassuring that I must be doing something right. I immediately called my mom and closest friends
to share the news,” Vanlandingham concluded.

---

 

Grossmont 3

Riverside 0

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