Comets Close Non-Conference Slate with 3–1 Win Over Wolverines

SAN MARCOS, CA (9/10/2025) -- The Palomar College women's volleyball team capped its non-conference schedule on a high note Wednesday night, defeating San Bernardino Valley College 3–1 (25–21, 19–25, 25–20, 25–22) at The Dome. The win pushes the Comets to 7–2 overall heading into Pacific Coast Athletic Conference play.

Trading Punches Early

The opening set saw Palomar set the tone with a 25–21 win, but the Wolverines bounced back in the second, taking advantage of Comet miscues to even the match. From there, Palomar steadied itself and leaned on its balanced attack to claim the next two sets and the match.

Balanced Offense

Freshman Reese Maffitt paced the offense with 15 kills on .281 hitting, while Emma Bambe matched her with 15 kills of her own to go with 11 digs for another double-double. Teiora Tinoisamoa added 13 kills, and freshman Kate Johnson contributed eight kills and five digs.

Setter Caden Pinto was the engine once again, dishing out 43 assists and adding 15 digs. Sierra Schoenwald chipped in six kills, two blocks, and two aces to round out a balanced night at the net.

Defensive Grit

Palomar's back row held strong, with libero Kiana Merrill collecting 10 digs and providing steady passing. As a team, the Comets tallied 57 digs and limited San Bernardino Valley to a .213 hitting percentage.

Looking Ahead

The victory gives the Comets a 7–2 mark through a challenging non-conference slate that included a win over state-ranked Cerritos. With momentum building, Palomar now turns its attention to conference play, beginning on the road against Imperial Valley College next Wednesday.