Comets Start 2025 Season with Perfect Day at LA Mission

Los Angeles, CA (8/22/2025) --  The Palomar College women's volleyball team opened its season with the kind of statement that sets the tone for a long fall ahead, in the best way possible. Behind a deep rotation of attackers, a steady hand at setter, and relentless serving, the Comets rolled through their first two opponents at the LA Mission College Tournament, sweeping East Los Angeles College and Allan Hancock College in back-to-back matches.

In the morning match against East Los Angeles, Palomar showed no signs of first-game jitters. The Comets jumped out to commanding leads in each set and never looked back, winning 25–14, 25–9, 25–12.

Freshman Kate Johnson set the early tone at the net with a team-high eight kills on a .438 hitting percentage. Fellow newcomer Reese Maffitt was a two-way force, putting down six kills while delivering six service aces to keep the Huskies on their heels.

Freshman setter Caden Pinto spread the ball to every corner of the court, finishing with 21 assists, while sophomores Emma Bambe and Sierra Schoenwald combined for 11 kills and four blocks. On defense, libero Kiana Merrill scooped up nine digs to help limit East LA to just 35 total points on the day.

If the morning showed what Palomar was capable of, the afternoon match against Allan Hancock underscored the team's depth. After a competitive first set, the Comets settled in and pulled away 25–18, 25–16, 25–10.

Maffit once again led the way offensively, hammering 11 kills to go with a pair of digs. Pinto orchestrated another balanced attack with 32 assists and kept the Bulldogs off balance with five aces. Schoenwald added seven kills on a .385 hitting percentage, while freshman Janice Garcia provided a spark off the bench, converting four kills in just one set of action.

Defensively, Merrill anchored the back row with nine digs, and Bambe contributed at the net with five kills and two blocks.

By the end of the day, Palomar had racked up 72 kills, 21 service aces, and held its opponents to hitting percentages well under .150. The two sweeps push Palomar to a 2–0 start, a strong springboard into a busy early-season schedule.