Roadrunners Split Home Doubleheader, Knocks Off Mounties, 4-1

The College of the Desert beach volleyball team finally got the proverbial monkey off its back Friday, earning its first conference victory in four seasons as the Roadrunners split a home doubleheader against Long Beach City and Mt. San Antonio.

COD (7-9; 1-2) opened South Coast Conference play with a 4-1 loss to perennial state contender the Long Beach City Vikings (10-3; 3-0) before rebounding in the afternoon to defeat defending conference champion the Mt. San Antonio Mounties of Walnut (9-6; 1-1) by the same score.

The win over the Mounties snapped an eight-match losing streak against Mt. San Antonio and marked the Roadrunners' first conference victory since March 2022.

Morning Match: Long Beach City 4, COD 1

The Roadrunners opened the day against the Vikings, managing to pull off a hard fought victory at the 2s.

At the No. 1 position, sophomore Clairie Thomas (La Quinta H.S.) and freshman Juliette Rothe (Xavier College Prep) battled but fell in straight sets, 21-15, 21-17.

COD earned its lone victory at the No. 2 flight, where sophomore Jacqueline Leon (La Quinta H.S.) and freshman Sophia Kalepp (Palm Desert H.S.) delivered a hard-fought three-set win. The pair edged the Vikings 25-23 in the opening set, dropped the second 22-20, and closed strong with a 15-9 victory in the decisive third set.

At No. 3, freshmen Sara Hanley (Xavier College Prep - Palm Desert) and Nadia Malone (La Quinta H.S.) fell in straight sets, 21-15, 21-10.

The closest match of the morning came at No. 4, where freshmen Leslie Delgado (Coachella Valley H.S. - Thermal) and Amber Kardol (Palm Desert H.S.) nearly pulled off a huge upset. After dropping the first set 21-11, the duo rallied to win the second set 23-21 before narrowly falling in a dramatic third set, 16-14.

At No. 5, freshmen Addison Curtis (La Quinta H.S.) and Mia Castro (Xavier College Prep - Palm Desert) fell in straight sets, 21-14, 21-14.

Afternoon Match: COD 4, Mt. San Antonio 1

The Roadrunners bounced back in a big way in the afternoon, defeating the defending South Coast Conference champion Mounties 4-1.

The victory was COD's first conference win in four seasons and its first triumph over Mt. San Antonio in eight meetings, dating back to March 11, 2022, also played in Palm Desert.

COD secured key points early as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams both won in straight sets to give the Roadrunners early momentum.

The dual was ultimately sealed at the No. 3 and No. 4 flights, where both matches went the distance.

Hanley and Malone claimed the No. 3 match after winning the first set 21-18, dropping the second 21-15, and responding with a strong 15-11 victory in the deciding set.

At No. 4, Delgado and Kardol delivered another clutch performance. After losing the opening set, the duo fought off the Mounties in a marathon second set to win 25-23 before gutting out a 15-13 victory in the third to clinch the match.

Up Next

The Roadrunners will close out their 2026 home schedule on Friday, March 13, when they host the El Camino Warriors of Torrance (4-8; 0-1) at 10 a.m.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Darbie Catalfamo Photography.