GAUCHOS EARN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

A pair of Saddleback volleyball players earned all-conference recognition in voting by the conference coaches following the 2008 season. Freshman libero Rachel Talafus earned second-team all-conference honors while freshman middle blocker Ashleigh Cottrell earned Honorable Mention status.

Talafus led the Gauchos with 377 defensive digs (5.0 per game) and was second in the conference in that category. She also added 25 service aces. Cottrell led the Gauchos with 138 kills and 67 blocks, coming on strong near the end of the season to finish as the conference leader in blocks.


SEASON ENDS WITH LOSS TO LASERS

The 2008 season came to a close on Wednesday (Nov. 19) with a salute to the three Saddleback sophomores followed by a three-game sweep by the Irvine Valley College Lasers.

Sophomores Amber Richter and Ashley Alexander have spent the past two seasons playing on the Gauchos volleyball team. Richter has been the starting setter for two seasons, accounting for over 900 assists during that time. Corey Freeman played for Northern Arizona University during her freshman season in 1999 and still had a year of eligibility at the community college level to participate for the Gauchos this season.

Saddleback dropped the first game 25-16 but fought back in the second game to tie the score at 22-22 before IVC was able to edge out a 25-23 victory. The Lasers earned a 25-10 victory in the third game to sweep the Gauchos in straight games. Alicia Dishno had six kills for the Gauchos, Ashleigh Cottrell had five blocks, Rachel Talafus recorded 13 defensive digs, and Richter was credited with 21 assists.

Saddleback ended the season with a 4-17 record.



SADDLEBACK FALLS TO RIVERSIDE IN FIVE GAMES

Saddleback was edged by visiting Riverside Community College in five close games during an Orange Empire Conference women’s volleyball match Wednesday night in the Gauchos’ home gym, 24-26, 27-25, 24-26, 25-17, 15-9.

It was a battle for sixth place in the conference standings but both teams came out playing hard and digging balls on defense as if the conference title was at stake.  Saddleback captured the first game 26-24, Riverside overcame a late deficit to win the second game 27-25, and then Saddleback didn’t fall to that trap again by holding on to win the third game 26-24.  It was finally in the fourth game that Riverside was able to put together a string of four consecutive points behind the serving of Brittany Whitlock that allowed the Tigers to pull ahead, 18-14, and Janet Ugaitafa served out the final four points to give Riverside the win, 25-17.
 
Riverside jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the fifth game and held an 11-3 lead before Saddleback started a comeback.  The Gauchos cut the deficit to 12-8 before Riverside pushed across the deciding points to win, 15-9.

Ashleigh Cottrell had 10 kills, nine blocks, and three service aces for Saddleback.  Amber Smith had 14 kills while setter Amber Richter had 40 assists.  Rachel Talafus was credited with 28 digs on defense.


GAUCHOS SWEEP PAST SANTA ANA

Saddleback earned its second conference victory of the season over the visiting Dons, taking three straight games by scores of 25-16, 25-20, 25-20.

Ashleigh Cottrell had nine kills for the Gauchos (4-13, 2-8 in OEC) while Sarah Worley added eight kills. Cottrell also had three solo blocks. Setter Amber Richter was credited with 25 assists along with three service aces while libero Rachel Talafus had 23 defensive digs.

Saddleback will play at Golden West on Friday at 7:00 p.m.


GAUCHOS HAUNTED BY PIRATES

Halloween night proved to be a bit too spooky in the Saddleback gym as Orange Coast continued to haunt the Gauchos, defeating Saddleback in three straight games (25-11, 25-17, 25-10).

Saddleback received eight kills and 10 defensive digs from Alicia Dishno while Ashleigh Cottrell added seven kills, including five in the first game, and setter Amber Richter finished with three service aces.

The Gauchos fall to 3-13 overall and 1-8 in conference. However, the team will host Santa Ana on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 6:00 p.m. Saddleback defeated Santa Ana in three games the first time the two teams met.


HORNETS STING GAUCHOS IN THREE

Saddleback dropped three straight games to Fullerton in an Orange Empire Conference women’s volleyball match Wednesday night, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14.

The Gauchos led for most of the first game before Fullerton tied the score at 16-16.  The Hornets led just 20-19 before Leah Haproff served out four points to give Fullerton a 24-19 advantage.  The second game was also tied at 17-17 before Fullerton’s Reilly Stevens served out six straight points to give the Hornets some breathing room, 24-17.

Fullerton jumped out to a quick 11-5 lead in the third game and continued to build upon that lead until Sofia Sanchez served out the final three points of the match, ending the match with a service ace.

Jade Esquivel led Fullerton with 14 kills. Saddleback was led by Ashleigh Cottrell’s (Oceanside HS) five kills and four blocks while Rachel Talafus (San Clemente HS) led the Gauchos with 22 defensive digs.

GAUCHOS DROP CONFERENCE OPENER TO CHARGERS

Saddleback fell to Cypress in the Orange Empire Conference opener on Friday night, dropping three straight games. The Gauchos fell 25-6, 25-16, 25-19.

The first-game loss was the worst deficit of any game played this season and the first time all year that the Gauchos have failed to get into double digits. The Gauchos had trouble finding a combination which could work together to string several points together. It wasn't until the third game that Saddleback's serving helped the team jump out to a 13-11 lead, helped in part by three consecutive service aces by libero Corey Freeman.

Ashleigh Cottrell led the team with five kills and three solo blocks while Sarah Worley added three solo blocks, as well. Katie Harper had 11 defensive digs.

The Gauchos are on the road next week at Orange Coast on Wednesday and Santa Ana on Friday before returning home to host Golden West the following Wednesday, Oct. 15.


Non-Conference Season Ends With Loss To Knights

Saddleback wrapped up the non-conference schedule Friday night (Sept. 26) but not in the fashion that coach Carmen Stratton had hoped would prepare the team for the upcoming tough Orange Empire Conference schedule. The Gauchos (2-5) were swept in three games by San Diego City College (4-1), 25-18, 25-18, 25-15.

Sophomore setter Amber Richter was credited with 15 assists, five each going to Alicia Dishno and Ashleigh Cottrell.

The Gauchos open Orange Empire Conference play on Friday, October 3, hosting Cypress College at 6:00 p.m.

GAUCHOS FALL TO PALOMAR IN FOUR GAMES

Saddleback dropped a four-game, non-conference match to visiting Palomar on Wednesday, falling 27-25, 25-21, 16-25, 25-20.

The tone for the evening was established early as neither team wanted the ball to land on its half of the court, with diving digs and sprawling bodies to keep the rallies alive.  Saddleback’s 22-18 lead in the first game slowly started to slip away until Palomar tied the score at 24-24.  Saddleback won the next point to be serving for game point, but the Comets fired off three points for the win, 27-25.  The second game was tied into the late teens before Palomar took a slight advantage and held on for a 25-21 win and a 2-0 advantage in the match.

The Gauchos played well with their backs against the wall and jumped out to an early lead in game three by winning the long rallies.  Saddleback held a 21-14 advantage and pushed through for a 25-16 lead to halt Palomar’s momentum.  The fourth game was knotted at 17-17 before the Comets caught fire to post a 25-20 win and claim the match, 3-1.

Alicia Dishno led Saddleback with 17 kills while Amber Richter and Courtney Farrow each served up four aces. The 6’4” Audrey Green led Palomar with 14 kills while Alex Barsotti added 12.

GAUCHOS DEFEAT GROSSMONT IN FOUR GAMES

After a slow start to the season, the Saddleback women’s volleyball team has shown big improvement over the past week with a pair of victories over non-conference foes. On Wednesday night in the Gauchos’ home gym, Saddleback defeated Grossmont in four games (25-20, 25-12, 15-25, 25-21) to improve to 2-3 on the season.  Grossmont slips to 0-6.

Sarah Worley (Capistrano Valley HS) had 11 kills, four service aces, and four solo blocks to pace the Gauchos while Ashleigh Cottrell (Oceanside HS) posted six solo blocks.  Libero Rachel Talafus (San Clemente HS) was credited with 29 defensive digs while Alicia Dishno (Capistrano Valley HS) and Katie Harper (Capistrano Valley HS) added 16 and 14 digs, respectively.

Saddleback will participate in the Santa Ana College tournament on Saturday, September 20.

Important Information

California Community College Athletic Association volleyball site Volleyball Rules (www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=41)