Long Beach, Golden West, Palomar all post upsets in Women's Volleyball Round 2 Regionals
While the top eight seeds all advanced in the Northern California Regionals, the SoCal Regionals were another story with three upsets and nearly two others in Round 2 action on Tuesday night.
The biggest news was #14 South seed Long Beach City ending the previously undefeated run by #3 Orange Coast, which had a 25-match win streak stopped in four sets. The other huge upsets were turned in by #13 Golden West in four sets over #4 Santa Barbara City and #11 Palomar outlasting #6 Moorpark in five.
Both #2 Los Angeles Mission and #8 San Diego Miramar managed to avoid further high seed disappointments by each winning in five sets.
Round 3 Regional Finals set for Saturday, Nov. 29
SOUTH
#1 San Diego Mesa v. #8 San Diego Miramar
#2 LA Mission v. #7 Mt. San Antonio
#5 Santa Monica v. #13 Golden West
#11 Palomar v. #14 Long Beach
NORTH
#1 San Joaquin Delta v. #8 Cabrillo
#2 Taft v. #7 Sequoias
#3 Feather River v. #6 San Mateo
#4 Monterey Peninsula v. #5 Fresno City
Updated Brackets: NorCal/SoCal
Recaps on all the Regionals follow:
SOUTH
No. 1 San Diego Mesa 3, No. 16 San Bernardino Valley 1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20): The Olympians (28-1) stretched their winning streak to 25 matches as one of three Pacific Coast Athletic Conference teams to advance although battled hard by the Wolverines (15-9) in four sets. Mesa was paced by Second Team All-American Mia Lundberg, who scored 16 kills with 12 digs, and All-SoCal Region Ruby Ennis, who distributed 34 assists, made 14 digs and served two aces. Bella Town added 12 kills (hit .310) and Maddie Connelly floored 10 kills and four blocks. SBVC got strong performances from Devi'arre Lucas with 15 kills, 12 digs, and five aces, Tamia Hardwick's 13 kills and 17 digs by Ava Avila.
No. 2 LA Mission 3, No. 15 MiraCosta 2 (26-28, 25-15, 16-25, 28-26, 15-6): The Spartans (16-11) came oh so close to making it four PCAC teams advancing as they had match point at 25-24 in the fourth set. But the Eagles (25-4) used a diving dig by Natalee Becariarashid followed by Tawnie Ohrt's kill to tie it. Ohrt's backline ace gave LAM the extra-points win. Then in the fifth, LA Mission stormed to an 8-1 lead en route to the marathon, 5-set victory. Ohrt and Madison "Maddie" Perry each delivered 17 kills while All-State Amya Cheatham January added 16 kills and six blocks. Rio Sandaiji set 41 assists, twirled six aces, and made 18 digs
No. 14 Long Beach City 3, No. 3 Orange Coast 1 (17-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-14): The Vikings (18-9) were a victim of RPI in the seeding process, but made their case where it counted in handing the Pirates (25-1) their first and only loss of the '25 season in four sets. OCC led 11-2 in the pivitol third set, but LBCC took a 17-15 lead before OCC held set point at 24-23. Long Beach got a kill by Marissa Krebs to tie it and an ace by Tyreana Allen gave the Vikings a 2-1 sets lead. Led by Krebs (.429 and seven blocks) and Kyla Jones (.478) with 13 kills each, Long Beach hopes to return to the state tourney after making it to the '24 quarterfinals. South Coast South Division MVP Ryleeh Tuaolo added eight kills and four blocks. OCC had beaten Long Beach on the opening day of the season in five sets that started its undefeated run only to see LBCC end it. Second Team All-American Nika Safavi pounded 19 kills and Kayla Ihrig scored 11 for the Pirates in the final match for legendary head coach and SoCal Coach of the Year Chuck Cutenese, who directed OCC to three state championships and 569 victories in a 33-year career.
No. 13 Golden West 3, No. 4 Santa Barbara City 1, (25-21, 12-25, 25-17, 26-24): The Rustlers had the greatest dynasty of this sport when they won 12 consecutive state titles from 1993 to 2004 under then HC Albert Gasparian, and now GWC is trying to get back to the state tourney after shocking the Vaqueros (20-5) in four sets. Golden West (19-4) is 2-0 in the playoffs thus far. The duo of Jenna Zaffino and Jalissa Costa, who combined for 25 kills in the team's first round sweep over Citrus, have helped Golden West in the postseason. Santa Barbara stumbled a bit after an 18-1 start to the season as it lost four of its final six matches, albeit to four playoff teams. For the Vaqueros, Valeriea Bellodas amassed 31 digs and three aces and Kaylin Cooney tallied 14 kills.
No. 5 Santa Monica 3, No. 12 Pasadena City 0, (25-23, 25-21, 25-21): The Corsairs (25-4) extended their winning streak to 16 matches in avenging an early season, 5-set loss to the Lancers (19-7) with the sweep. Santa Monica trailed 20-18 and 21-18 in each of the last two sets but had superb finishes including a 7-0 run to close out the victory. All-State Nicole Lankton was limited to six kills but had two set-clinching blocks while Mia Whitlock scored seven with seven digs. Makena Gamby served four of SMC's 14 aces. For Pasadena, SCC North Freshman of the Year Bobbie Torres totaled eight of her match-high 12 kills in the second set and Leah Millage added seven kills.
No. 11 Palomar 3, No. 6 Moorpark 2 (25-20, 20-25, 12-25, 25-19, 15-12): The Comets (19-7) rallied from down 2-1 and got by the Raiders (21-9) in five sets. In the decisive final set, Palomar led 10-6, but Moorpark tied it at 11-11. The Comets would win it when Caden Pinto (43 assists, five kills, nine digs, three blocks) serve was mishandled for a match point ace. Reese Maffit paced Palomar with 18 kills and 14 digs, Sierra Schoenwald had six kills and five blocks while Teiora Tinoisamoa and knocked down 11 kills. Moorpark was led this season by All-Region Daylin Saiki.
No. 7 Mt. San Antonio 3, No. 10 Ventura 1 (25-10, 24-26, 25-21, 25-18): The Mounties (22-5) advanced in four sets over the Pirates (16-10) thanks in part to Emma Carson totaling 15 kills and 18 digs and All-Region Sydney Valentine's 13 kills. Kayla Stavely contributed nine kills and four aces and Eva Fisher had eight kills ( hit .533). Madison Mierau scored 11 kills to lead Ventura, which also got eight kills and five blocks by Daphne Raymond.
No. 8 San Diego Miramar 3, No. 9 Desert 2 (27-25, 26-28, 17-25, 25-21, 15-10): The Jets (23-7) swept the Roadrunners (21-7) on Sept. 12 but this playoff was a battle with Miramar prevailing in five sets. Miramar traded extra-set opening sets, but COD grabbed a 2-1 lead. At that point, Miramar rode the swing of Second Team All-American Madelyn Wutzke, who bombed 24 kills (hit .432) with 11 digs and three blocks. Makena Kowalski totaled 50 assists and 12 digs while Niloofar Jorbozeh scored 10 kills. COD relied heavily on First Team All-American and state kills leader Clairie Thomas, who crushed 33 kills (.286) with 17 digs and five aces and Juliette Rothe with 48 assists. Meriah Escobedo was a defensive force with 24 digs. Desert finished the program's best season in its volleyball history. This match was one of three 5-set wars in a memorable Round 2 in the South.
NORTH
No. 1. San Joaquin Delta 3, No. 16 Reedley 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-21): The Mustangs (28-1) would like nothing better to get back to the state tourney after missing out last season and they started with a sweep over Tigers (14-16), who made their first Round 2 appearance in 26 years. First Team All-American Hadlee Gray rifled 19 kills (hit .455) with 11 digs and three aces, All-State Paige Taylor set 40 assists, and Big 8 Conference Libero of the Year Catherine Frias passed at 2.35 with 22 digs and two aces. Kenadi Walton scored 11 kills and Emily Enriquez made 15 digs for Reedley. Delta is on a 20-match win streak and handed NorCal Coach of the Year Molly Hummel her 300th career victory.
Delta HC Molly Hummel (back row middle in black blouse) celebrates win #300
No. 2 Taft 3, No. 15 Solano 0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-15): The Cougars (29-2) extended their win streak to 20 while ending the Falcons (22-12) season with a sweep in the final match under Solano's long-time head coach Darla Williams. Second Team All-American Jazzahlei Satele scored eight kills with 10 digs, Shylah Pula-Valdez hit nine kills (.444), and All-Region Vienna Perier made three kills, 12 assists and three aces. Kaylie Reyes paced Solano on eight kills, 11 digs and nine assists and Giana Guintu had 15 digs and 10 assists.
No. 3 Feather River 3, No. 14 Modesto 0 (25-9, 25-12, 25-13): The state regular season #1-ranked Golden Eagles (33-1) put on a dominating display in stretching their win streak to 14 matches in the sweep over the Pirates (20-11). First Team All-American Chloe Albiez, a postseason folk hero, crushed 15 kills (.382) with 12 digs and three aces, Third Team All-American Teya Gibbs dished out 38 assists and two aces, and All-Region Carol Manu floored 17 kills (.438) and three blocks. For Modesto, Alicia Souza posted 11 kills and eight digs.
No. 4 Monterey Peninsula 3, Coalinga 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-22): The Lobos won (22-2) their 12th straight in sweeping the Falcons (16-11). All-Region Kayla Smith notched seven kills, Ella Child five blocks, and Kaitlin Smith 14 digs for MPC. Amber Cerny scored eight kills and four aces and Kinnedy Miller had six kills, three aces, and three blocks for Coalinga.
No. 5 Fresno City 3, No. 12 American River 0 (25-6, 25-22, 25-20): The Rams (25-5) won in five over the Beavers on Sept. 17, but dominated ARC (17-12) in this sweep. Karina Rodriguez scored 12 kills (.308) with 13 digs, two aces and two blocks, Third Team All-American Haiden Davis tallied seven kills, two blocks and two aces, and Kailani Soares had six kills and set 17 assists. American River's remarkable run of state tourney appearances ends at six consecutive. Beavers' Gwen Hansen, the Big 8 Setter of the Year, and Mallory Kuehl were All-Conference players who played their final community college match.
Fresno's Karina Rodriguez in action
No. 6 San Mateo 3, No. 11 Sacramento City 2 (25-22, 21-25, 26-24, 17-25, 15-9): The Bulldogs (23-5) held off a tough Panthers (23-10) squad in a hard-fought five sets for their 15th straight win. For CSM, All-Region Synia Hunt scored 17 kills, Alyssa Polanco distributed 50 assists, Addison Turner slammed 12 kills (.647), and Madison Williams totaled 11 kills, 14 digs and three aces. Sacramento had strong performances by libero Mariah Azua and All-Big 8 Katelyn Wilfong.
No. 7 Sequoias 3, No. 10 Hartnell 0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-17): The Giants (24-9) win the rubber match of 3-contest series this season v. the Panthers (18-13), who they swept on Sept. 6 then lost to in five on Sept. 27. The sweep was one of six in Round 2 matchups. COS was led by NorCal Libero of the Year Allison Wood, who totaled 21 digs, Ai-Lani Hunter with six kills and seven blocks, Mariainez Lopez, who scored 12 kills. Sina Roberts led Hartnell with 19 assists and 12 digs while Dora Roberts added nine kills, 13 digs and two blocks.
No. 8 Cabrillo 3, No. 9 Cosumnes River 2 (20-25, 29-27, 25-21, 25-27, 15-13): In the closest match of the NorCals, the Seahawks (22-5) fought off the Hawks (22-6) with two of the sets going extra points. Cabrillo outscored CRC, 114-113, as the teams traded many leads throughout. Jordan Simpkins, who averages 3.35 kills per set, Natalia Cash, and Jaycee Lee, sixth in the state in assists at 10.18 average, have led Cabrillo this season. Cosumnes River had strong efforts from All-Big First Teamers Paityn Snow (15 kills, 26 digs, four aces) and Ella Cline (50 assists, 14 digs, three kills), as well as 19 kills by Jadyn Hoffman.
Recaps by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA SID