Feather River finds 3rd meeting v. ARC a charm--a state women's volleyball semifinal sweep

N4 Feather River (30-7) d. N2 American River (28-5), 3-0: 25-19, 25-22, 25-23

WALNUT -- After twice being swept by American River in the regular season, a hungry Feather River College team fully savored a third opportunity v. the Beavers in performing a sweep in the 3C2A Women's Volleyball Championship semifinals on Saturday evening. 

Despite being the North's #4 seed and #6 in the regional playoffs, the Golden Eagles return to the state final for the third straight season as they face state #1-ranked Fresno City in the championship match on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Battle of the Rivers began with Tiare Faupula scoring four kills and making three blocks in a 6-point opening set triumph. Feather River led 15-7 and ran away with the game and a 1-0 lead.

In the second set, ARC jumped out to a 9-3 lead only to see FRC go on a 5-0 run to slice it to one. The Beavers would then lead 14-11 and 17-14 before Feather River went on an 8-2 run capped by a block by Faupula and Ledua Koi for a 22-19 advantage. Two kills by Ane Tuinauvai and a another stuff by Lucy Ryan and Mia Rivera captured the 3-point win and a commanding 2-0 sets lead.

In the third, the Beavers tried to rally as 6-foot-2 Jayda Moran came off the bench to record a pair of blocks with teammate Malloy Kuehl and built a 14-6 lead. An Amiah Cornejo/Celestine Hayes block doubled the score at 16-8 and a kill by Kuehl later made it 18-11.

Tuinauvai, who missed both of the first two encounters with American River due to injury, buried three kills in a momentous 11-2 run to give FRC a 22-20 lead. A push kill by Kaylynn Whitt, an ace by Sofia McPherson, and an attack error by FRC regained the lead for American River at 23-22. 

The Beavers though couldn't finish off the set as a solo block by Mia Rivera was sandwiched by two rifle kills by Ryan to complete the surprising sweep Feather River sweep.

"We were willing to do everything we could possibly do to get back to the championship match," said the All-State First Team sophomore opposite Ryan, who finished with 12 kills (hit .333) and five blocks. "We came together as a team and we just won by bringing so much energy. Everyone did well today."

Overall for Feather River, quarterfinals hero Chloe Albiez powered 10 kills, Tuinauvai eight kills with 12 digs, Faupula seven kills (.313) and five blocks, and Rivera three kills and six blocks. Teya Gibbs was a setting/defensive stalwart on 13 assists and 12 digs while the team's starting setter Maya Cann dished out 24 assists.

For American River, All-American Morgan Castaneda was limited to 10 kills with 10 digs, Kuehl had four kills, five blocks, and two aces, and Cornejo scored six kills.

"Feather River swung aggressively with a nothing to lose, underdog mentality," said ARC head coach Carson Lowden, who brought her team to the state tourney for the sixth straight season. "I thought we served and passed well. We didn't put enough offensive pressure on them. The difference was that they just did a great job in transition."

The two finalists have won four of the last seven state championships with Feather River winning in 2019 and 2022 while Fresno took home the titles in 2016 and 2019.

Feather River brings in an 11-match win streak. American River had a 13-match win string snapped.

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