Comets Stun No. 6 Moorpark in Five-Set Thriller, Advance to Sweet 16

MOORPARK, CA (11/25/2025) -– The postseason magic continues for Palomar College. In one of the biggest wins in program history, the No. 11-seeded Comets went on the road and took down No. 6 Moorpark College in a five-set thriller, 3–2 (25–20, 20–25, 12–25, 25–19, 15–12), advancing to the 3C2A Sweet 16.

The victory sends Palomar back home to The Dome, where they will host No. 14 Long Beach City College on Saturday night in a rematch of last season's Sweet 16 battle.

A Statement Win on the Road

Playing in a hostile gym against a top-six seed, the Comets delivered one of their most resilient performances of the year. Palomar came out hot to take the opening set, weathered Moorpark's heavy push in the middle frames, and then flipped the match with a commanding finish in the fourth and a poised, confident close in the fifth.

The Comets hit .180 as a team and out-dug Moorpark 64–? (Moorpark's dig stats not listed), showing the type of defensive grit that has defined their postseason identity.

Maffit and Tinoisamoa Lead the Charge

Freshman outside hitter Reese Maffitt rose to the moment with one of her best matches of the season, hammering 18 kills—her most in a postseason match—to go with 14 digs and two block assists.

Sophomore middle blocker Teiora Tinoisamoa was unstoppable in the middle, hitting an incredible .476 with 11 kills on 21 swings, adding a block assist and steadying Palomar's offense whenever they needed a lift.

Setter Caden Pinto orchestrated the comeback with 43 assists, nine digs, and a kill–block combo that swung momentum in the fourth set.

Defense Fuels the Finish

Libero Kiana Merrill anchored the back line with 12 digs, while Emma Bambe contributed 13 digs of her own to go with six kills and a key ace in the fifth.

In the front row, Sierra Schoenwald added six kills on .278 hitting and tallied a team-high five block assists, while Dovie Daniels chipped in four kills and three total blocks to help slow the Raiders' attack.

Palomar finished with 12 total block assists, controlling the net when it mattered most and disrupting Moorpark's rhythm down the stretch.

Back to The Dome for the Sweet 16

With the win, the Comets advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year—and the stage sets up a familiar storyline. Palomar will host No. 14 Long Beach City College on Saturday night in a rematch of last season's Sweet 16 round.

This time, it's in The Dome.
This time, the Comets carry the momentum.