Taft Volleyball Sweeps Cerro Coso and Santa Barbara in Home Doubleheader

TAFT, Calif. - Taft College completed a perfect home doubleheader Saturday, Sept. 19, sweeping Cerro Coso 25-18, 25-15, 25-11 before defeating Santa Barbara 25-19, 25-12, 25-12. The Cougars won all six sets and combined for 78 kills, 16 service aces and 12.5 total blocks across the two matches.

Taft established its attack early against Cerro Coso, putting down 13 kills and hitting .314 in the opening set. The Cougars continued to separate in the second set with 11 kills, then held Cerro Coso to 11 points in the third to complete the first sweep. Taft finished the match with 35 kills against 10 attack errors for a .321 hitting percentage while adding 40 digs and five total blocks.

Jadalynn Satele led the Cougars in the opener with nine kills, nine digs and a solo block. Jazzahlei Satele supplied eight kills, four aces and eight digs, while Ku'uleimokihana Manaois contributed six kills on .333 hitting and was involved in four blocks. Vienna Perier directed the offense with 15 assists and added five kills. Teihanni Tafisi served four aces, and Railye-Marie Makainai-Kon finished with 10 assists and seven digs.

The Cougars raised their offensive efficiency against Santa Barbara, hitting .362 with 43 kills and only nine attack errors. Taft produced 15 kills while hitting .324 in the 25-19 first-set victory, then limited Santa Barbara to five kills and a .000 hitting percentage in the second. The strongest finish came in the third, when the Cougars recorded 16 kills, committed one attack error and hit .417 to close the doubleheader.

Satele, who had eight kills in the opener, led the second victory with 15 kills on 23 attempts and a .565 hitting percentage. She also collected nine digs. Havi Valdez added nine kills on .500 hitting and two total blocks, and Perier filled several roles with seven kills, 12 assists, nine digs and three total blocks. Shylah Pulu-Havi Valdez contributed five kills on .556 hitting and led the net defense with five total blocks.

Makainai-Kon handed out 18 assists against Santa Barbara, while Tafisi led the back row with 12 digs. Natalia Strömsdörfer-Meza added three of Taft’s seven aces. The Cougars totaled 51 digs and 7.5 blocks in the finale while holding Santa Barbara below .120 hitting in every set. Taft will remain home to face Cabrillo College on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.