No. 17 Comets Storm Back to Stun No. 20 Cerritos in Reverse Sweep

NORWALK, CA (9/3/2025) -- The Palomar College women's volleyball team proved their state ranking was no fluke on Wednesday night. Facing their first ranked opponent of the year, the No. 17 Comets rallied from two sets down on the road to knock off No. 20 Cerritos College in a dramatic 3–2 reverse sweep (19–25, 17–25, 25–14, 25–21, 15–9).

The opening two sets belonged to Cerritos, who capitalized on Palomar's miscues and held the Comets to negative hitting in the second frame. Down 0–2 and staring at defeat, Palomar regrouped and began to settle into its rhythm.

The third set marked the momentum shift. Palomar's attack came alive with 15 kills at a .275 clip, sparking a 25–14 win that put Cerritos on its heels

From there, the Comets never looked back. Freshman Reese Maffitt led the charge with 16 kills and three aces, while fellow freshman Kate Johnson delivered 11 kills and a team-high 15 digs. Emma Bambe was equally steady, finishing with 15 kills and 12 digs for a double-double.

Setter Caden Pinto orchestrated the comeback with 43 assists and 26 digs, while Teiora Tinoisamoa added six kills and a team-best seven blocks to give the Comets a crucial presence at the net. Sierra Schoenwald chipped in four kills and five total blocks, and libero Kiana Merrill was a defensive anchor with 17 digs and an ace.

With the match tied 2–2, Palomar showed poise in the deciding set, hitting .219 as a team and pulling away late for a 15–9 victory. The win pushed the Comets to 6–1 on the season, with their first ranked victory now under their belt.

For head coach Karl Seiler, the reverse sweep was more than just a win in the standings. It was a defining early-season moment, proving the Comets can handle adversity against high-level competition.