LA Mission Shuts Down Santa Monica in Straight-Sets Home Opener Victory
Game Recap: LA Mission Sweeps Santa Monica in Straight Sets September 17, 2025 ? 6:00 PM | 12890 Harding St., LA Mission College In a tightly contested match that was far closer than the final score suggests, LA Mission College defeated Santa Monica College in straight sets?25-23, 25-23, 25-21?showcasing grit, precision, and a resilient defense that held firm in key moments.
Match Summary:
From the opening whistle, both teams traded punches, with Santa Monica showing early offensive efficiency (.316 hitting percentage in Set 1), led by Mia Whitlock (12 kills, 15.5 points) and Reese Luke (10 kills, .304 hitting). But LA Mission responded with balance and timely playmaking from a deep roster.
Though Santa Monica put up 45 kills and hit a respectable .243 overall, it wasn't enough to overcome LA Mission's defensive wall and clutch scoring.
Set-by-Set Breakdown:
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Set 1 (25-23): Santa Monica jumped out with a hot hand offensively, but key kills by Tawnie Ohrt and Madison Perry allowed LA Mission to steal the set late.
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Set 2 (25-23): Another nail-biter. Despite another strong showing from Whitlock and Nicole Lankton (9 kills), LA Mission's Amya Cheatham January dominated at the net (.471 hitting, 15 points), swinging momentum to the home side.
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Set 3 (25-21): Fatigue seemed to catch up with Santa Monica as their hitting percentage dipped to .154. LA Mission, fueled by a loud bench and solid serving, closed the match confidently.
Standout Players – LA Mission:
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Amya Cheatham January: 9 kills, 4 solo blocks, 15.0 points — an all-around force at the net.
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Tawnie Ohrt: 11 kills (.222), 12.0 points — delivered in clutch moments.
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Madison "Maddie" Perry: 10 kills, 11.0 points — consistent offensive threat.
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Temple Vasquez: Contributed 7 kills and 10 digs, helping stabilize both ends.
The Mission defense was particularly impressive, racking up 74 digs and 10 total blocks, with libero Sofia Vazquez anchoring the back row with a match-high 25 digs.