Santa Monica’s Sweet 16th Victory

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker Reese Luke (#8) attempting to block a shot from Pasadena City College (PCC) Lancer Outside Hitter / Opposite Hitter Payton Scott (#2) during the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Women's Volleyball Championship at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2025. SMC Corsair won against PCC Lancers 3-0, continuing to break the school's home win record of 12-1. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair reserves and assistance run towards the court after their active team won against the Pasadena City College (PCC) Lancers during the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Women's Volleyball Championship at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2025. SMC Corsair won against PCC Lancers 3-0, continuing to break the school's home win record of 12-1. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair fans cheer as Pasadena City College (PCC) Lancers failed to land a serve in the court during the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Women's Volleyball Championship at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2025. SMC Corsair won against PCC Lancers 3-0, continuing to break the school's home win record of 12-1. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker Reese Luke (#8) and Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker Nadene Taase (#13) attempting to block a shot from Pasadena City College (PCC) Lancers spike during the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Women's Volleyball Championship at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2025. SMC Corsair won against PCC Lancers 3-0, continuing to break the school's home win record of 12-1. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Reserve Mariah Thompson (#17) and Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker Nadene Taase (#13) blocking a spike from a Pasadena City College (PCC) Lancer player during the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Women's Volleyball Championship at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2025. SMC Corsair won against PCC Lancers 3-0, continuing to break the school's home win record of 12-1. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Middle Blocker / Outside Hitter / Libero Mia Whitlock (#10) celebrates with her teammates after successfully scoring against Pasadena City College (PCC) Lancers during the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Women's Volleyball Championship at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2025. SMC Corsair won against PCC Lancers 3-0, continuing to break the school's home win record of 12-1. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Middle Blocker / Outside Hitter / Libero Mia Whitlock (#10) spiking the ball against Pasadena City College (PCC) Lancer Middle Blocker Samantha Munoz Gomez (#17) during the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Women's Volleyball Championship at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov 25, 2025. SMC Corsair won against PCC Lancers 3-0, continuing to break the school's home win record of 12-1. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs’ Women's Volleyball team extended its 16-game winning streak on Tuesday Nov. 25, remaining undefeated in the Western State-South Division. SMC faced off against Pasadena City College in the second round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs, for the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Championship. 

The Corsairs swept the Lancers 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-21) to advance to the third round of regionals. Mia Whitlock earned player of the game honors, finishing with a match-high seven kills.

The Corsairs entered the playoffs as the No. 5 seed in the state with a 25-4 regular season record and were uncontested within their respective division.The Lancers, the No. 12 seed, came in with a 19-7 overall record and a 6-2 conference season. 

The Corsairs struck first in the opening set as middle blocker (MB)/opposite hitter (OPP)  Nicole Lankton put down a kill, giving the Corsairs early momentum. The Lancers trailed for most of the set, briefly pulling ahead only once midway through. The Corsairs closed out the first round 25-23, giving the Corsairs a one-set lead in the regional matchup.

SMC opened the second set with a service ace, carrying the momentum from the first set into the second.  PCC answered quickly when outside hitter (OH)  and OPP, Leah Millage put down a kill. The Lancers kept the lead until a service error by OH Bobbie Torres halted their run, shifting the momentum back to the Corsairs. SMC pulled ahead to overtake the lead and close out the set 25-21.

Pasadena swung back in the third set after Corsairs' MB/OH and Libero Mia Whitlock committed an attack error, giving the Lancers a chance to rebuild momentum. SMC stayed close, trailing by only two points before calling a timeout. Santa Monica seemed to return with confidence after the timeout, with MB/OH Nicole Lankton delivering a key kill that shut down Pasadena’s offense. The Lancers were held scoreless for the remainder of the set, sealing a 3-0 sweep and eliminating Pasadena City College from the Playoffs.

The Corsairs now await their next opponent in the third round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs for the 3C2A championship. SMC will take the court again on Saturday, Nov. 29th, 2025, at home in the Corsair Gym.