REDDING, Calif. – For the first time this season, Shasta College's volleyball team won back-to-back matches last week when it swept College of the Redwoods and dismantled Lassen College in four sets.
The Knights did it during Hall of Fame week as Shasta College alumnae Sarah Scott and Lauren Swetland were inducted into the Shasta College Hall of Fame on Friday night at Win-River Resort & Casino.
Shasta swept Redwoods 25-8, 25-5, 25-11, and beat Lassen at home Thursday 22-25, 25-8, 25-20, 25-7.
The Knights are now 3-3 in Golden Valley Conference play and 5-19 overall.
Shasta's win over Redwoods was its second sweep of the year. Sophomore Lexi Bradshaw was the lone Knight with double-digit kills with 12, as she also added 13 digs and eight service aces, which included serving 10 straight points in the first set. Brea Carter also had a long run of serves, said Shasta College head coach Kelly Brazil.
"Our goal was to play consistently and to work on our offensive plays," Brazil said. "Our strong passing allowed us to execute our offense well. We were able to keep Redwoods out of system with tough serving and a strong transition to offense."
Sophomore setter Regin Loftin did her part, dishing 20 assists and recording a team-best three aces. Freshmen Katy Kirk and Brea Carter each tallied nine kills, and Skylar Kingsbury led the way on defense with 21 digs.
Shasta had to rally against Lassen after losing the opening set. But the Knights followed it with a convincing 25-8 win in the second set and closed it with a 25-7 win.
"Against Lassen, we got off to a slow start and lacked intensity," Brazil said. "After the first set, our energy and intensity improved and that was the difference for us in the match. The whole team played well."
Shasta totaled 60 kills and had a .391 team hitting percentage. Bradshaw (18), Kirk (12), and Carter (10) each recorded double-digit kills, while Loftin had 31 assists and nine kills, and Jessica Troxclair had six kills.
Freshman Maddison Smedley had 19 assists and 10 digs. The defense got in on the action with a season-high 97 team digs. Kingsbury finished with 31 digs, followed by Ashley Hale-Tignor (18), Bradshaw (17), and Carter (11), respectively.
Shasta plays at first-place Feather River College Friday at 6 p.m.