By Will Herbert

After recording a home win in their last outing, Community College of Philadelphia Lions Women’s Volleyball Team lost to Middlesex College Colts in three sets, 25-14, 25-12, 25-17, at the Athletics Center on Wednesday.

Miscues hurt the Lions throughout the game, and the Colts jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the first set after two Lions’ passing errors. A third error on a collision between Sofia Arborio and Annie Ortiz caused Ortiz to hit the floor. Colts players took a knee to acknowledge a potential injury, but Ortiz was able to shake it off and remained in the game.

After capturing the first set, Middlesex jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second set off serves from Yashira Ortiz, a front-row player for the Colts. The Lions responded with four straight points of their own, including a block by setter Omaira Gonzalez and a service ace from Arborio that forced a Colts’ timeout.

Middlesex went on an extended run after the timeout, taking advantage of more errors from CCP and some fortunate luck. An errant hit on a free ball from the Lions was followed by a Colts’ serve that clipped the net but fell in between Lions’ defenders. Zion Leigh Johnson got her fingertips on a block attempt, but the redirection caused the ball to fall short of libero Sunny Robles, back-row specialist, giving the second set to Middlesex.

The Lions responded with grit and kept the score close deep into the deciding set. Ajla Dylmishi joined in on the action with two service winners early, and Aniyiah Winchester scored four winners, including a back-row spike, to tie the set at 13-13.

However, the Lions were unable to find the rally to get them over the hump, and service errors from the Lions gave away uncontested points. Late in the set, a serve from Colts’ front-row player Brynn Conover hit the ground between four Lions’ defenders in a play that defined the evening for CCP, and Middlesex completed the sweep shortly thereafter.

The result wasn’t what the Lions hoped for, but both coaches noted what the team could learn from the game. Coach Nicole Vadino said that the team proactively tried new setters to get players experience in anticipation of missing players for upcoming games.

“The one thing we can take away from today is learning how to work as a team. They’re learning each other in different positions, and then learning just how to be on the court together and who goes where,” Coach Jennifer Tront said during a postgame interview. “This was a nice learning experience to prepare us for future games.”

Lions’ players also spoke positively about the team’s outlook despite the loss.

“The season isn’t over. We still have more games. We still have more practices,” Winchester said after the game. “I think we can do a much better job next time.”

With the loss, the Lions fall to 1-3 on the season. Coach Vadino said Annie Ortiz was fine after the game and there were no injuries to report.

Postgame recap can be found on the Philadelphia Vanguard Media YouTube channel. A replay of the game is available on the CCP Athletics YouTube channel.

It will be a quick turnaround for Community College of Philadelphia, as the Lions host Montgomery County Community College on Saturday at noon in the Athletics Center.

CCP home games are free to attend.