As the Southern California Volleyball Association season winds down, all divisions only had pool play for their final “Mandatory” tournament to provide them extra points for seeding into the final Regionals tournament.
The Santa Barbara Volleyball Club’s 14-Blue won all its matches handily to place first for the day. The team beat Laguna Beach 14-1s, Long Beach 14-Runbird and Seal Beach 14-1s in two sets each.
Sarah Scarminach and Mariah Bell really improved on their defense, each racking up many digs in every game the team played. Hayley Hodson led in the team in kills from both the left and right sides for the day, while Emma Eccles and Melissa Scott tallied up three stuff blocks apiece.
Coach K.C. Collins said that, Bailey Roach also had one of her best matches with tough serving and steady passing out of the back row.
“It was good too see the team’s hard work at practice pay off in the games,” commented Collins.
The 13-Smack team had an excellent day in Anaheim. With the steady setting of Lexi Rottman and Dane Miller the team finished 2-1 for the day. After trailing 21-24 in set two against Beach Cities, Annika Wilson served the game out to a 26-24 game and match win! The team placed second in its pool.
“The enigmatic 14-White team was up to its old ways again for the last mandatory,” according to Coach Matt Schroeder.
The team scrapped and battled their way through three matches to finish out 1-2. Many attribute the early morning flat-footedness to the lack of sleep of the long drive from Santa Barbara to the 909 area.
The first battle, although the team lost in three to Club Impact, turned out to be the best effort of the day! The 14-White team played some of their best volleyball seen all season coming up just short 15-12 in the last set. Anastasia “Staz the Skywalker” Kunz brought the house down with a few thunderous spikes and suffocating blocks.
In the second match against Club West Elite, chocked full of offensive firepower, things changed in dramatic fashion. The 14-white team started off the second match moving as slow as molasses and looking as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Club West put on a relentless shock and awe campaign dropping anvils and bombs all over the court, and the team lost in two straight sets.
Club Tustin, the 4th seed in pool, came out swinging in the third match. Both clubs, looking at a 0-2 record desperately needed a win. The first set would go to SB 14-White, 25-21. A late game surge by Tustin was quickly extinguished by the laser-like serving of Brenna “the Inspiring Tiger” Geiger.
The team dropped the second set sending the match into a thrilling and suspenseful game three. Tustin jumped out early 7-2, seemingly obliterating all hope for a 14-White victory, but the team sharpened their shovels, dug deep, and found the fortitude needed to come back like they had done all season long, then won the match 15-13.”
14-Red team went 1-2 in its pool. The team, missing a few players for the day, brought in Kristina Garcia from the 12-Smack team whom, “played superb! The team was thrilled to have her,” according to Coach Deia Kidd.
Dakota Niessen was the only setter for the day, “she stepped up her game and did a great job,” said Kidd.
The team played its first match against Conejo Crush that went to a deciding 3rd set. The team was down 12-14 when Maddy Frohling went to serve and came through, bringing the team to a 14-14 tie game. At 21-20, Frohling came back around to serve for game point, and she served an ace for the match win 22-20. The team unfortunately, finished 3rd for the day after losing its next two games to Legacy and Ocean Elite only by a few points in each set. The 13-White team had a rough tournament, finishing 4th for the day. The team lost to SG Elite 14-Alliance and Legacy 13-1 in two sets each.
“Our final match was full of excitement against Sunshine 14-Steel, ending at 16-14 in the third game. Emily Stevens and Erin Linehan led the team this weekend with their great defense,” commented coach Malinda Reese.
The 16-Smack team finished 2-1 in its pool. “The team seemed to have hit the snooze button one too many times and slept through the first game against Orange County,” said Coach Greg Novak.
“But the players cleaned the sleep out of their eyes to focus on the final score of 25-15. The final alarm sounded! The team woke, had their espresso, and came alive to win the match in three sets!” Said Novak
The team went on to beat Club Jamba but later fell short against nemesis Wave 16’s. Coach Novak lauded the overall play of his team.
“I’m really happy with outcome and performance of the team this weekend,” Said Novak.
The 18-Smack team won all of its matches on Sunday, while the 18-white team had a little tougher of a time at it. The 18-White lost all three matches but battled pretty well, considering two of the team’s hitters are injured.
“Jessie Ditmore stepped it up in a new position as an outside hitter. She passed consistently and has made a smooth transition from middle blocker,” according to Coach Shalen Williams.
“Kelcey Chaffin is now playing in the middle and is a spark out there on the court! She is energetic and has a tough float serve that we count on when we need a run of points. Maggi Jo Keffury is a great setter and has settled into her role as the emotional leader on our team. She makes athletic saves and never gives up!” Commented Williams.
The 17-Smack team had some great competitive play in its pool despite finishing 4th on the day. Coach Angie Erdmann synopsized the day, “The team had a rough start in passing and lost the first set to Triumph 18-Bamboo,” said Erdmann. “However, the team pulled together and Karina Evans was able to spark the offense in the middle. On the outside, Katie Shea led the team with passing and kills while Morgan Riegert was amazing all around and smashed kills down the line,” said Erdmann.
Setters Tristan Racich and Laura Masho led in assists to carry the team to a victory in its first match of the day 25-23, 25-23, 15-12.
The team played extremely well against Revolution 18-1, with Morgan Riegert and Rachel Szeyller tallying kills from the outside. Bianca Castro and Karina Evans also lit up the court with quick hits from the middle. The match was a very close battle but the team couldn’t stop Revolution’s outside hitter #21 and lost 25-19, 26-24, 15-12.
Against Smack 18s, the team kept its fire and energy. Arika Johnson tallied kills from the right side and led the team with service aces, while setter Tristan Racich led in assists. The team played great defense and it was a very close match but the 17-smack team lost 25-23, 25-23.
