It’s tough to get motivated to climb when you’re already at the top. The CIF Division I-A champion Santa Barbara girls volleyball team learned that lesson on Tuesday night as it fell to host Clovis West 25-21, 11-25, 25-21, 25-20 in the Central Valley.
Emily Rottman battled through a cough and fever, coughing up 10 kills and seven digs for the Dons, and Mimi Cuttrell added 11 kills and five digs. Sophomore Eve Ettinger had 12 kills with eight digs and Natalie Guerra dished out 41 assists.
All four of those players turned in big-time performances on Saturday, when the Dons beat Dos Pueblos in the title in front of 3,000 at Rob Gym.
“It’s always going to be tough coming off of an emotional win like that,” said assistant coach Lee Carlander. “Our goal before the season started was to win CIF, so we achieved our goal… We had a great season and we’re just very proud of the girls.”
The Dons finish up at 26-8, while Clovis West moves on with a 28-6 record.
