No. 11 Comets Head to the Playoffs: A Season of Growth Leads to a Showdown at No. 6 Moorpark

SAN MARCOS, CA (11/19/2025) -- What began in August with a young roster, a handful of returners, and a team searching for its identity has become one of the strongest seasons Palomar College women's volleyball has produced in the past decade. And now, after months of building, learning, and pushing through one of the toughest conferences in the state, the Comets are officially playoff-bound.

Palomar earned the No. 11 seed in the 3C2A SoCal Regional Playoffs, securing a first-round bye and setting up a second-round trip to face No. 6 Moorpark College on Tuesday, November 25.

It's the kind of matchup that fits this team's storyline perfectly: a chance to take everything they've built and measure it on the biggest stage yet.

A Team That Grew Into Belief

The numbers tell part of the story. The Comets enter the postseason 18–7 overall, with a .205 team hitting percentage, 963 kills, 183 aces, and a defense that has only gotten better as the season progressed.

But the real storyline is in how they got here.

A freshman setter who refused to play like a freshman. A sophomore core that steadied the ship when matches tightened. A freshman class that quickly became the heartbeat of the offense. A defense that dug its heels in during big moments.

Together, they turned questions into momentum, momentum into belief, and belief into a postseason berth.

The Players Who Carried the Load

Freshman outside hitter Reese Maffitt played like a star from day one—226 kills, 37 aces, and a team-high 273.5 points—but more importantly, she delivered in the moments that swung matches Palomar's way. Sophomore middle blocker Teiora Tinoisamoa was the steady, emotional anchor at the net, hitting .269 with 191 kills and 48 total blocks, one of the best defensive stat lines in the conference. Sophomore pin Emma Bambe added six-rotation stability with 188 kills, 239 digs, and 35 aces, often serving as the team's calmest presence in wild rallies. Freshman setter Caden Pinto guided it all—741 assists (9.62 per set), 36 aces, and 222 digs—running one of the more balanced offenses in Southern California. And libero Kiana Merrill's 270 digs (3.51 per set) gave Palomar the identity it needed late in the year: tough, relentless, and rooted in defense.

This group didn't wait for experience, they created it.

The Opponent: A Road Test Against Red-Hot Moorpark

Standing on the other side is No. 6 Moorpark, a 21–8 powerhouse that hasn't lost at home all season (9–0). The Raiders average nearly 11 kills per set, serve aggressively with 261 aces, and are led by standout attackers Genessa Johnson (258 kills, .296) and Olivia Campisi (224 kills).

Their freshman setter Daylin Saiki—with 809 assists and 59 aces—runs one of the fastest, most aggressive offenses in the region.

It's a veteran, battle-tested group. It's also the exact kind of matchup the Comets have been preparing for all season.

What's Next

The winner of Tuesday's match will advance to the 3C2A SoCal Regional Quarterfinals, moving one step closer to a state championship berth.

For Palomar, the matchup provides an opportunity to build on a strong regular season, lean on its balanced lineup, and continue its upward trajectory under postseason pressure.

First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, November 25, at Moorpark College.