SMC Women’s Volleyball Team Secure Third Consecutive Win!

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs’ (L to R) setter (14) Grace Poort and middle blocker (5) Nicole Lankton block Glendale College Vaqueros’ (1) Kelaiyah Johnson spike attempt on Friday, September 19, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won the match 3-0. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsair Mia Whitlock (#10) spikes against Glendale Community College (CC) Vaqueros Jessica Casper (#4) during a match at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Sept 26, 2025. SMC Corsairs won 3-0 against Glendale CC Vaqueros, winning their first conference game. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs women's volleyball team looking towards the U.S. flag while singing the National Anthem before a match against Glendale Vaqueros at SMC Corsair Gym, Santa Monica, Calif., on Sept 26, 2025. The SMC Corsairs won 3-0 against Glendale Community College Vaqueros, securing their first conference victory. (Jordi Garcia Sosa | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs’ (L to R) outside hitter (17) Deavan Antoine-Dillon and middle blocker (5) Nicole Lankton block the ball on Friday, September 19, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won the match 3-0. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs’ (L to R) outside hitter (15) Ava Salvo and middle blocker (3) Amelia Bechtel block Glendale College Vaqueros outside hitter (5) Karina Biel Spike attempt on Friday, September 19, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won the match 3-0. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs’ (Lto R0 outside hitter (17) Deavan Antoine-Dillon and middle blocker (5) Nicole Lankton block Glendale College (1) Kelaiyah Johnson on Friday, September 19, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won the match 3-0. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs teammates and assistant coaches celebrate after winning second set on Friday, September 19, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif. The Corsairs won the match 3-0. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College Bundy Campus at Santa Monica College (SMC) on Friday, September 26, 2025, Santa Monica,Calif. (Tom Rosholt | The Corsair)

Loud and proud, the Santa Monica College (SMC) women’s volleyball team, out-blocked the Glendale College Vaqueros at the Santa Monica Gymnasium on Friday, Sept. 26. In a set of three, The Corsairs overcame the scoreboard, leaving 25-12, 25-16, 25-18. SMC key players Nicole Lankton and Mia Whitlock both finished the matchup with 10.5 points. 

Within the first play of the game, Lankton jumped up, towering over the net, abruptly putting a point on the board for SMC. Deavan Antoine-Dillon followed right behind with a big kill for SMC, pushing setter Makena Gamby back to the service line, where she remained until a net violation during a rally, giving The Vaqueros their first point, 7-1. Middle blocker Eva Portnaya made an impact throughout the set, gaining points for the Vaqueros with successful kills, blocks, and a tip that kept SMC on their toes, ending 25-12. 

Corsair students, family, and friends began to fill the gymnasium throughout the second set, increasing the energy. Double blocks came from Corsairs in pairs, Lankton and Whitlock or Lankton and Grace Poort. Rallies went on with intense swings from both teams, and back-to-back double blocks returned from the Vaqueros, Sarai Ochoa, and Journey Blueford. Numerous free balls were given by Glendale, allowing SMC to complete full bump, set, attack plays, increasing their points. 

When Libero Elanor Serrano from the Corsairs’ subbed back into the game for the final point of the second set, one section of SMC students began to chant “ELLA! ELLA! ELLA!”. After being sung “Happy Birthday,” from the section and sidelines, Serrano served a challenging serve that Vaquero's libero Raelee Lanphear could not successfully get up. The Corsairs finished the second set 25-16. 

Portnaya, Ochoa, and Corsair errors led the Vaqueros to lead 5-1 within the first 3 minutes of the third set. They maintained holding the lead for quite some time as SMC continued to tie the game before allowing Glendale to recover and gain points. After a Glendale timeout, SMC was able to recover the lead with Whitlock, Antoine-Dillon, and Nadene Taase taking charge of the offense with powerful attacks and hustle. The Corsairs had continuous errors throughout the set but were able to finish it 25-18.

The next game for the Corsairs will be at the Santa Monica College Gymnasium on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 6 pm to face off against Bakersfield College.