The Santa Barbara High girls volleyball team almost pulled off a first-set win against fifth-seeded Orange Luthern in their CIF Division 1-AA second-round match Thursday.
“We were up 24-23 and had a couple of swings for the set,” Dons coach John Gannon said. But Orange Lutheran fought off the pesky Dons and won the set 29-27 en route to a sweep. The other scores were 25-13, 25-13.
“We played our best. Things just didn’t go our way tonight,” said Gannon.
On Orange Lutheran, which unseated Mater Dei as the champion of the Trinity League, Gannon said: “They’re just solid; they have a lot of seniors on the court and they’re playing with a purpose.”
The match was the final one for three Santa Barbara seniors: Tessa Dewell, Bailey Roach and Lucie Simmons.
“I’m really proud of the effort they gave the whole season,” said Gannon.
Santa Barbara, champion of the Channel League, finishes the season at 17-12.
The Dons’ trip back to Santa Barbara had some excitement. Gannon reported the team stopped for dinner at Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles in Hollywood and ran into boxing champion Floyd Mayweather.
“Tonight was a tough loss, but we had a good time at Roscoe’s,” said Gannon. “We got to have chicken and waffles and see one of the greatest boxers of all time.”
