By Will Herbert

Community College of Philadelphia Lions Women’s Volleyball team got their first win of the season at home on Wednesday night with an epic comeback victory in five sets, 16-25, 23-25, 28-26, 25-19, 15-12, against area rival Delaware County Community College Phantoms. 

After dropping the first set, the Lions got out to an early 16-10 lead in the second set, with Sofia Arborio contributing multiple winners. However, the Phantoms slowly worked their way back, tying the score at 23, and eventually closing out the set after forcing a Lions’ error. 

Down two sets to none, the third set was a back and forth affair. CCP grabbed a 9-5 lead behind back-to-back service aces from Annie Ortiz. In similar fashion to the second set, the Phantoms of DCCC chipped away at the lead, and after an errant spike by Arborio, CCP was on the brink of defeat. 

The Phantoms first serve for the match fell short of the net. Mahogany Willamson-McCants then entered the game to serve for the Lions. The ensuing exchange lasted almost two minutes, and numerous digs from Williamson-McCants, Aniyiah Winchester, and Sunny Robles saved the match for the Lions. Arborio eventually dropped in a tip off a set from Shayla Pratt to tie the set at 24 and stir up the home crowd. 

The Phantoms would have another opportunity to win the match but watched a back row winner from Arborio fall in to cause another tie at 26. The Lions kept the momentum and captured the set after a net violation and an error by the Phantoms on Robles’ serve. 

After tasting some success, the Lions settled in and found a stride during the fourth set, jumping out to an 8-1 lead after a successful block from Onyi Patrick. The Phantoms called for time twice to regroup, but the Lions stayed hot. They closed the set with multiple aces from Winchester and a sneaky tip over the net from Pratt. 

The deciding fifth set was much closer at the start, but strong serves from Omaira Gonzalez helped give the Lions a 10-4 lead that they never relinquished. The Phantoms made one last run to pull within two late, but after a spike attempt caught net, the Lions were victorious. 

The Lions’ win was the first home victory for the women’s volleyball team in three seasons.  

Winchester said she felt the team had been putting in the work in practice and it showed in the game. 

“We’re improving very much – we communicate better and we trust each other,” Winchester said in the postgame interview.  

With the victory, CCP improved to 1-2 on the season. A replay of the game is available on the CCP Athletics YouTube channel. 

The Lions were down a player for this game, as Ellawyn Marvelous was unavailable to play. Sunny Robles played the libero role as a back row specialist for the Lions. No injuries were reported for tonight’s game. 

The next game for the Lions will be at home on Wednesday, September 30 at 6 p.m. against Middlesex College in the Athletics Center.  

CCP home games are free to attend.   

Monday 

Earlier in the week, the Lions traveled to Montgomery County Community College for a road game.  

Despite winning the first set, the Lions fell in four sets to the Mustangs, 20-25, 25-17, 25-19. 25-19. The Lions were shorthanded for this game as well, as Sofia Arborio was unavailable to play. 

UPDATED: Wednesday, September 30th at 8:40 p.m.