All high seeds advance In first round of Women's Volleyball Regionals
Home advantage proved mighty in the opening round of the Women's Volleyball Regional Playoffs on Saturday as the eight higher seeded teams, four from each region, advanced.
UPDATED NORTH BRACKET FOR ROUND 2, TUESDAY, NOV. 22
UPDATED SOUTH BRACKET FOR ROUND 2, TUESDAY, NOV. 22
NORTH
#13 Taft d. #20 Mendocino, 23-25, 25-13, 25-15, 28-26: The Cougars fought back from a set down v. the Eagles as smart distribution by Taft setter ShaCe Niu produced 16 assists in the key fourth set in Taft's victory. Her career-high 54 assists were an array of placing Cougars' hitters in many one-on-one attacks. Jada Dias was Taft's biggest beneficiary as she scored 20 kills, hitting .436. with 19 digs while Bethany Himalaya was all over the floor totaling 13 kills, 5 blocks, 4 aces and defending well with 19 digs. Another key player was libero Kailee Watanake who made a season-high 32 digs. In the fourth set, Mendocino made a bid to stretch the match to five in taking a 12-5 lead, but Taft stormed back as Payton Marshall ripped three straight kills to tie it at 15-15 and added two more at the close to take the deciding fourth set in extras. Leading the Eagles were Kaylee Wells hitting 17 kills, Zoey White scoring 12 kills, Victoria Ruiz passing out 35 assists and 18 digs, and Jacie Clavelle serving 5 aces. Mendocino, which won 11 of its last 12 Bay Valley Conference matches, made it to the postseason for the first time ever in the sport, finishing its season at 15-6. Taft (17-9) plays at #4 San Mateo in Round 2.
#14 Monterey Peninsula d. #19 Shasta, 25-14, 27-29, 25-18, 28-26: The Lobos moved on behind the play of All-NorCal Region selection Kylee Moore, who posted a towering season-high 34 kills with 18 digs. The Knights grabbed a 17-9 lead in hopes of sending the match to a fifth set, but Moore fired off six kills to lead a MPC comeback and a 4-set victory. For Monterey, Brooke Cannon made 28 digs, Magdalena Tabel scored 11 kills, and Luca Berg set 41 assists with 18 digs, 3 kills and 2 aces. Shasta was paced by Sarah Ault with 7 kills, 23 assists, 10 digs and 7 aces while Presley Hamilton added 7 kills, 28 digs, and 3 blocks. Shasta closes its season at 13-16. Monterey Peninsula (16-5) plays at #3 American River in Round 2.
#15 Modesto swept #18 Merced, 30-28, 25-18, 25-14: The Pirates, who last made it to the playoffs in 2013, advanced to the second round for the first time in its postseason history by sweeping the Blue Devils. MJC has been a hot streak, winning 18 consecutive sets for six straight wins. Merced had swept the Pirates back on Aug. 31 and fought hard in the opening set, twice saving set point before Kylie Kriese landed a kill to give Modesto the extra points win. All the momentum swung to the Pirates who controlled things the rest of the way. All-Big 8 Conference First Teamer Ava Chiesa scored a double-double on 12 kills and 15 digs while Makayla Kaufhardt was a force at the net on 9 kills and 7 blocks. Kriese added 7 kills, 7 digs,, and 2 aces, and Lanai Torres set 34 assists with 9 digs and 3 blocks. For Merced, Hannah Torres hit .467 on 15 kills, Abby Bakken nailed 13 kills and 3 blocks, and Kianna Becerra totaled 31 assists and a team-high 11 digs. Merced finishes at 12-11. Modesto (17-13) plays at #2 and state #1 Feather River in Round 2.
#16 De Anza d. #17 Sacramento City, 25-16, 14-25, 25-19, 26-24: The Mountain Lions rode the all-around play of Adrianna Williams to defeat the Panthers in four sets. Williams scored 14 kills (hit .314), made 18 digs and served 5 aces. Her tough serve led to a couple of scoring runs, including holding serve on 12 points in the third set. Karina Mota added 10 kills (.391) and 3 blocks, Asia Truong 8 kills and 10 digs, and Tati Iosefa contributed 8 kills and set 42 assists. For Sacramento, Abby Shackelford just missed a triple-double on 17 kills (.378), 20 assists and 9 digs, Lexi Vasquez defended 27 digs, and Malia DeCelle had 9 kills. Sacramento closes at 15-15. De Anza (13-12) plays at #1 seed San Joaquin Delta in Round 2.
SOUTH
#13 Santa Barbara City d. #20 Saddleback, 17-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-20: The Bobcats already had an upset win over #2 seed Irvine Valley during Orange Empire Conference play and were attempting to do the same to SBCC with an 8-point first set win. The Vaqueros, a team that handed #1 seed Ventura its only loss this season, recovered quickly to take the next three sets and record a 4-set victory. Carolina McCarty led SBCC on 12 kills and 13 digs. Karoline Ruiz was efficient in her 10 kills (hit .450) with 3 blocks, Jacelin McKie made 16 digs, and Emma Crabbe added 7 kills while dishing out 24 assists. The Bobcats were led by Lilyann Horner with 14 kills and All-OEC First Teamer Sydney Brown with 10 kills and 13 digs. Jolie Robinson added 11 kills and 11 digs while Logan Daniels set 37 assists and made 13 digs. Saddleback ends its season at 15-10. Santa Barbara (15-10) plays at #4 San Diego Mesa in Round 2.
#14 Rio Hondo d. #19 Desert, 25-8, 25-18, 19-25, 25-12: For the second time in less than a month, the Roadrunners defeated the Inland Empire Athletic Conference champion Roadrunners in four sets. Rio Hondo established its serve and relied on its team strength--defense--to take control early on. Five different RHC players reached double digits in digs as All-South Coast Conference First Teamer Maria Bejines pounded 13 kills (hit .360) and led everyone with 19 digs. Faith Wada twirled 5 aces and added 29 assists and 14 digs, Nadine Oronez had 11 kills and 12 digs, and Faith Lee contributed 9 kills and 10 digs. COD was led by Caitlin Bilhartz with 9 kills (hit .316), Briana DelVal (18 digs), and Melanie Hernandez with 7 kills and 10 digs. Desert's first postseason appearance in 15 years included its first conference title since that 2007 season as the Roadrunners closed this year at 15-9. Winners of eight of its last nine matches, Rio Hondo (14-6) plays at #3 Moorpark in Round 2.
#15 Bakersfield swept #18 El Camino, 25-18, 25-15, 29-27: The Renegades put together one of its best hitting nights of the season, attacking at a .394 clip with only five errors to knock of the Warriors. Aubree Dees scored 11 kills and added 11 set assists while superb defense was turned in by Alexandria Johnson 21 digs (and 10 kills) and Kya Jones 24 digs (and 3 aces). Tori Robertson added 11 kills and hit .494. For El Camino, Leafa Juarez slammed 12 kills and Jayden Zabala totaled 30 assists and 17 digs. In the fourth set, ECC tried to extend the match in taking a 22-17 lead. Bakersfield rallied to take a 24-23 lead on back-to-back aces from Jones. Alex Perryman saved match point with two straight kills and the teams traded points until an ace by Tia Jules turned the tide back to the Renegades one last time. El Camino finishes at 10-12. Bakersfield (14-9) plays at #2 Irvine Valley in Round 2.
#16 MiraCosta d. #17 Golden West, 27-25, 25-23, 19-25, 28-26: In a tight match, the Spartans twice won sets in extra points to outlast the Rustlers in a 4-set victory. All-SoCal Region selection Kailyn Jager was as advertised by rifling 26 kills (hit .302) with 17 digs and Jackie Gracey chipped in 17 kills (.417) and 10 digs while Summer Hoslett delivered 45 assists and dropped in a match-point kill to seal the triumph. Makayla Hicks added 10 kills and 12 digs. Golden West closes at 12-11. MiraCosta (19-8) plays at #1 seed Ventura in Round 2.
Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWCA SID