Richland Moves Ahead of North Lake in DAC Race

IRVING, Texas – Dallas College Richland's volleyball beat Dallas College North Lake on the road Monday 16-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-19.

Richland (14-17, 4-5 Dallas Athletic Conference) moved a game ahead of North Lake (10-15, 3-6) in the conference standings with one match remaining in the regular season. The Thunderducks host No. 9 Dallas College Brookhaven (13-11, 7-2) in the final match at home 6 p.m. Thursday. North Lake will play at Dallas College Cedar Valley (3-23, 1-8) in the regular season finale.

Richland and North Lake split during the regular season.

Down a set Monday, the Thunderducks trailed 19-17 in the second set after North Lake's Brooke Pearson's ace. Richland's Myra Memon served the next two points to tie it at 19-19. Kyna Rios' block gave the Thunderducks a 21-20 lead before North Lake's Kynlee Rion tapped down the next point. Luisa Perozo ripped off an ace to put the Thunderducks up 23-21. Lainey Teel's point at the net and Braylee Garrett's kill gave Richland the set.

In the third set, Garrett pounded a kill to give Richland a 14-12 lead. Ryleigh Martin and Aubrey Villa's back-to-back kills extended the gap to five. Brenna Casler and Rion each had kills, and Pearson's service point brought the Blazers within 20-18. Martin's block pushed the lead back to four before Angelina Gomez's ace trimmed it to 22-21. North Lake drew even on a Richland blocking error. But Perozo closed the set with two aces to give the Thunderducks a 2-1 lead in the match.

Richland raced out to 19-13 lead in the fourth set when Villa banged down a ball. Pearson served three points to bring the Blazers within three. Martin and Rion swapped kills on consecutive serves to put the Thunderducks in front 21-18. A North Lake error and Martin's blast wrapped up the win for Richland.

The Thunderducks held the Blazers to a .059 hitting percentage. After attacking at a .233 rate in the opening set, North Lake was limited to .022, .026 and .000 hitting percentages in each of the next three sets.

Rion finished with 10 kills and four blocks for the Blazers. Hailey Pennison had nine kills, 11 digs and two blocks. Katie Lloyd had 16 assists, nine digs and an ace. Ava Mendez finished with 29 digs and an ace.

The National Junior College Athletic Association Division III South District Tournament will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at Dallas College Eastfield.