COD (10-1) hosted their annual COD Tri event, featuring the Allan Hancock Bulldogs of Santa Maria (1-6) and the Imperial Valley Arabs (6-5), where the Roadrunners swept both contests.

The Roadrunners hosted a morning and afternoon tilt in Palm Desert as they rolled up Hancock (25-15, 25-11, 25-16) in the morning and then swept Imperial Valley (25-19, 25-16, 25-12).

In game one, sophomore middle blocker Nicole Svoboda (La Quinta H.S.) led the team with 11 kills, led the team with 3 solo blocks, had 2 service aces and had 5 digs and sophomore middle blocker Mckenzie Bartlett (Redmond, OR Ridgeview) tied for the team lead with 2 service aces and had 10 kills.

Sophomore outside hitter Baylie Dashner (La Quinta H.S.) tied for the team lead with 2 service aces, had 6 kills and had 5 digs and sophomore defensive specialist Brooke Topliff (Rancho Mirage H.S.) tied for the team lead with 2 service aces and had 12 assists.

Freshman outside hitter Kelsey Smith (Delta, BC South Delta Secondary) had 7 kills, sophomore setter Ashtyn Lyneis (Palm Springs H.S.) led the team with 24 assists and sophomore libero Emily Sundback (Rancho Mirage H.S.) led the team with 7 digs.

Your Roadrunners have never lost to the Hancock Bulldogs since their first match in 2013, where Desert is 5-0 all-time. The history between the Imperial Valley Arabs and the Roadrunners began in 1976, the first year for the Desert Volleyball program, where COD has built a 21-13 record against the Arabs, including an 9-6 record in the friendly confines of Palm Desert.

In game two, Lyneis opened serve in set one with an ace and the crowd went crazy. Desert would take a 6-4 lead early, but the Arabs would roll on a five point run, taking a 9-6 lead. The Roadrunners would go on a five point run of their own, in the middle of which Imperial Valley called their first time out. Immediately after the time out Bartlett hit a service ace to truly add insult to injury for the Arabs. Neither team would yield, as the game would go back-and-forth Imperial Valley would call their second time out with Desert leading 18-13. Once again, after the Arabs time out, Desert would nail an ace, leaving many to wonder, "maybe Imperial should call time outs, all the time." But alas, the Arabs only had two time outs and the Roadrunners won the first set 25-19.

The second set was almost identical to the first set, in that, neither team could get away from one another. Desert won a point, then the Arabs won a point, and it went like this through 4-4. After the game was once again tied, this time at 11-11, the Roadrunners went on a four point run and Imperial Valley called their first time out. Later in the set, Desert would go on another four point run, and the Arabs called their second time out with the Roadrunners leading, 21-15. Desert would close out the set on back-to-back service aces by Lyneis, to win the second set, 25-16.

The third set was lopsided, as the Roadrunners rolled out a ten point run and sprinted out to an 11-3 lead, not looking back. Desert won the set 25-12, with Imperial Valley scoring eight of their 12 points in the final 16 serves.

Lyneis led the team with 34 assists, lead the team with 11 digs and tied for the team lead with 3 service aces and Dashner lead the team with 17 kills and had 6 digs.

Smith had 9 kills and Bartlett tied for the team lead with 3 service aces and had 8 kills. Svoboda had 6 digs, had a solo block and a block assist and Sundback had 6 digs on the afternoon.

The next game for COD is at the Mt. San Antonio Invitational on September 29.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com)