Mesa survives Sierra turnaround, wins women's volleyball state quarterfinal #2 in four

S2 San Diego Mesa (26-1) d. N3 Sierra (27-6), 25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 27-25

WALNUT -- Momentum can come and go quickly in sports and defending champion San Diego Mesa saw highs turn to lows at the end of set #3 and start of set #4, but in the end the Olympians caught one last wave to overtake Sierra in four sets in the 3C2A State Championships quarterfinals #2 on Friday. 

On a 17-match winning streak, Mesa will play Fresno (21-match string) in the semifinals on Saturday at 2 p.m.

After winning 11 consecutive state tourney sets going back to last year, it appeared Mesa would make it 12 in a row, leading 23-20 in the third game. Sierra didn't want its season to end on a whimper, fighting back with two aces by Jordyn Deter as part of a 5-0 run to steal a 2-point win.

In the fourth, Sierra ran off the first six points and kept control at 17-11. Mesa chiseled away the lead and tied it at 17-17 on a Bella Town kill. The Wolverines again grabbed the throttle, taking a 23-20 lead on Taylor Stolz' bomb. Another Stolz kill placed it at set point, 24-22. 

However, Mesa found its game, tying it on an Eva Luna kill to send it to extra points. Stolz again put Sierra within set point of pushing the match to five. Instead, Mesa got back-to-back kills by Town and her defense at the net with teammate Isabella Barrios forced an attack error for match point.

"We sort of took the foot off the gas in the third and Sierra is a helluva team and caught us," said Mesa head coach Bobbi Jo Stall-Vest. "We haven't been in that position to have to come back this season and I was proud of how we showed so much heart and grit to fight back. Town is a freshman but has been a steady performer for us all season and she showed poise today to help us get over the top."

Town finished with 15 kills and an impressive eight block (all assisted)  while Halen Kiefer boomed 13 kills with 14 digs. Lilia Rosales was solid on six kills and six blocks while Jaiden Mojica collected 29 set assists, 14 digs and two aces.

Stolz hammered 18 kills (56 attacks) and Deter tallied 41 assists, 12 digs, five blocks, four aces and two kills. Paige Skinner contributed 15 kills, 12 digs and three aces while Wyievee Binda knocked down seven kills and six blocks. Sophia Guerrero made 20 digs.

"We both have fast-paced offenses, but we didn't put enough pressure on them in the serving game," said Sierra head coach Alanna Whitnack. "We had one of the best opposite and setter duos in the state (Stolz and Deter) for two years and I didn't think they were in sync as much in this match as we've seen them this season. Still they produced enough points. We played hard and I'm proud of our team."

Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA/3C2A State Tournament SID