Giants look to keep pace in CVC race

By Nick Giannandrea

For College of the Sequoias Athletics

A share of first place in the Central Valley Conference hangs in the balance when College of the Sequoias' women's volleyball team faces Columbia on Friday.

The Giants (8-3, 2-0) can pull back into a tie with Fresno City College (12-2, 3-0) with a victory. The state No. 3-ranked Rams don't play their next conference match until Oct. 2 against Reedley.

COS rides a four-match winning streak into Friday's 5 p.m. match at Columbia (3-2, 1-2). The Claim Jumpers, like the Giants, are listed as one of the "Best of the Rest" teams in the California Community College Women's Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25.

Hazel Martinez (Mission Oak High) has led COS to wins in its first two CVC matches by producing 14 kills during a 27-5, 17-25, 25-22, 25-14 victory Sept. 18 at West Hills-Coalinga, and 13 kills in a 25-12, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of Porterville on Sept. 20.

Martinez has teamed with Christa Pilgrim (Mission Oak) to power the Giants' offense this season with 90 and 106 kills, respectively.

Madison Sousa (Hanford West) has led COS' block (23), and Alexis Carmona (Madera) leads the back row with 179 digs. Sydney Guinn (Exeter) and Kia Campbell (Coalinga) have shared the team's setting duties, contributing 197 and 123 assists, respectively.

The Giants' next home match is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 2 when they host Taft at Porter Field House.