City College volleyball falls to Mesa on Sophomore Night, will play final three matches on road

Knights’ five sophomores were honored prior to match

Danny Straus, Sports Editor

November 1, 2024

City College sophomore Kailey Vecchia goes up for a spike against San Diego Mesa College at Harry West Gym, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Photo by Danny Straus/City Times Media

The San Diego City College volleyball team was swept in their final home match of the season, 25-18, 25-17, 25-8 against Pacific Coast Athletic Conference leader San Diego Mesa College (19-1, 12-0 PCAC) at Harry West Gym Oct. 30.

The Knights (4-12, 4-9 PCAC) stayed competitive in their first two sets, but a series of serves that didn’t go over the net plagued them in the first set and a questionable out-of-bounds call from a referee swung the momentum towards Mesa College’s favor in the second set.

City head coach Audra Dent expressed her displeasure with the call but also noted that her team should’ve stayed composed despite it.

“That call was a game changer for us, and it was wrong,” Dent said. “But it happens, and we have to be able to respond and not allow that to take the whole set away.”

City College head volleyball coach Audra Dent instructs her team during a timeout in a match against San Diego Mesa College at Harry West Gym, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Photo by Danny Straus/City Times Media

The Knights then faltered in the final set, falling 25-8.

Despite the loss coming at their last home match, Dent is still looking for her team to continue to improve in their last 3 road matches.

“I still think that we’re getting to our highest level of play, so just waiting for that peak for us,” Dent said. “I don’t think we’ve hit it yet, and we get to play a few really good teams. I’m just excited for us to be competitive.”

The Knights will play their last 3 games on the road, battling Southwestern College Friday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m., San Diego Miramar College Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. and will finish their season at Grossmont College, Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m.

City College sophomore volleyball players from left, Piper Tatum (1), Allison Wygal (2), Kailey Vecchia (10), Aamori Daniels (12), and Cordelia Gipson (21) pose after they were honored on Sophomore night at Harry West Gym, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. Photo by Danny Straus/City Times Media.

City College honored its five sophomores – Allison Wygal, Cordelia Gipson, Piper Tatum, Aamori Daniels, and Kailey Vecchia – prior to their match as their teammates recited individual poems to express their appreciation for each of them. Flowers and gift baskets were also presented to the sophomores.

This sophomore class is the first at City to spend two years with Dent at the helm after she took over for the 2023 season and is a group that she has cherished.

“It feels good being able to see them through their career here,” Dent said. “They’ve brought so much to the program. We’re going to miss them.”

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