Griffins sweep Jags for first PCAC win

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 24, 2026

Grossmont College sophomore Shalynn Copes hits against Southwestern on Wednesday.

2026 GROSSMONT COLLEGE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com

CHULA VISTA — Grossmont College entered this week’s two-match road stretch looking to turn a difficult September into a stronger start in conference play. The Griffins took the first step with a sweep.

Grossmont dispatched Southwestern, 25-21, 25-13, 25-21, Wednesday for its first Pacific Coast Athletic Conference victory, answering last week’s conference-opening loss to San Diego Mesa.

Now 5-7 overall and 1-1 in the PCAC, the Griffins head to Cuyamaca on Friday at 6 p.m. with a chance to finish a perfect road week and move above .500 in conference.

Alicia Bustmante contributed 16 assists, nine digs and four aces as the Griffins finished with 11 aces. Samantha Sabaot added 14 assists and two aces, while sophomore libero Tatum Lawton collected 14 digs and served two aces.

Rachael Ashburn and Ashlyn Hemmerly supplied six kills apiece. Ashburn hit .400, and Shalynn Copes added five kills.

The victory followed a demanding stretch for first-year head coach Kara Barkdoll Coy’s team, beginning with four matches against highly ranked Northern California opponents at the NorCal vs. SoCal Showcase in Fresno on Sept. 4-5.

Grossmont went winless at the showcase but pushed then-No. 1 Feather River, the two-time defending state champion, to five sets before losing the deciding set, 15-13.

The Griffins also fell in four sets to then-No. 4 Fresno City and then-No. 12 College of San Mateo, and in three sets to then-No. 3 San Joaquin Delta.

Grossmont rebounded the following weekend with two victories and a third-place finish at LA Mission’s Eagles Invitational.

The Griffins opened that tournament Sept. 11 by defeating Cypress, 25-18, 25-20, 26-28, 25-22, snapping their four-match losing streak.

After a closely contested semifinal loss to Bakersfield — 28-26, 26-24, 26-24 — Grossmont came back to beat Golden West in the third-place match Sept. 12. The Griffins dropped the opening set before winning the next three for an 18-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-22 victory.

Grossmont then opened conference play with a four-set home loss to San Diego Mesa on Sept. 16. The Griffins won the third set before the Olympians finished a 25-19, 25-10, 17-25, 25-19 victory.

Wednesday’s sweep gives Grossmont three wins in its five matches since the Fresno showcase.

The Griffins visit Cuyamaca on Friday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m., then return home to face San Diego Miramar on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and San Diego City on Friday, Oct. 2. Both home matches begin at 6 p.m.

EastCountySports.com