Spires and Bambe Shine as Comets Split Matches with Grossmont and San Diego City

SAN DIEGO, CA (4/4/2025) -- The Palomar College women's beach volleyball team wrapped up another day of Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) play with a split decision on Friday, falling 4-1 to Grossmont College before bouncing back with a dominant 5-0 sweep of San Diego City College. The Comets now sit at 8-9 overall and 5-5 in conference action.

While the day featured mixed results, the No. 1 duo of Janell Spires and Emma Bambe continued to be a bright spot, winning both of their matches in straight sets. Against Grossmont, Spires and Bambe delivered a composed 21-19, 21-17 victory over K. Smith and E. Sanchez. They followed that performance with another commanding win over San Diego City's K. Vecchia and C. Stevens, taking the match 21-13, 21-4.

Palomar's match against Grossmont saw tight contests across multiple flights. Brisa Necochea and Kylana Madayag were edged out in a close 21-16, 22-20 match at No. 2. At No. 3, Cadence Young and Kaia Lam fell 21-15, 21-15, while Mariah Flores and Kiana Merrill battled to three sets before falling 21-16, 17-21, 15-5 at No. 4. The No. 5 pair of Bailey Prieto and Teiora Tinoisomoa also forced a third set but came up just short, 21-12, 18-21, 15-10.

In their second match of the day, the Comets responded with a sweep over San Diego City College. Necochea and Madayag secured a 21-18, 21-13 win at No. 2, and Young and Lam added a 21-16, 21-12 win at No. 3. Flores and Merrill stayed solid in a 21-12, 21-17 victory on court four, and Prieto and Tinoisomoa capped off the sweep with a forfeit win at No. 5.

The Comets will close out team play this Friday with matches against Grossmont College and Mt. San Jacinto College. Afterward, the focus will shift to the PCAC Individuals Tournament, which begins Tuesday, April 16 at MiraCosta College.