Third-Set Replay: Watch the entire third set of last night’s Channel League rivalry match played at Santa Barbara High between the host Dons and the Royals of San Marcos. The Royals looked to stay alive and took a 16-11 lead only to see the Dons rally to capture the set and match.
The student section emptied out on to the court in celebration after the Dons clinched a 25-17, 25-23, 25-20 win.
After faltering the first two sets of the match, the Royals were seemingly on their way to a victorious third game with a well-determined Chloe Allen pounding balls at the net.
San Marcos was in the lead for nearly the entire first half of the final set before Santa Barbara’s Jackie Starnes came up big and ignited the Dons momentum with two diving saves, stopping the Royals from further extending their lead.
With San Marcos up 17-16 later in the set, a long rally had the gym rattling with the crowd on their feet as both teams fought back and forth. San Marcos’ Anika Wilson kept the play alive by slipping her foot under the ball to pop it up, which was then rendered pointless after Santa Barbara secured the point to tie up the set at 17 apiece.
Senior Lexi Rottman was the engine for the Dons offense, sparking a riveting comeback with five straight serves after a pivotal kill by Katie Gallivan put the Dons within striking distance of the Royals. Santa Barbara’s’ 7-1 run was eventually put to a halt which brought the set to 19-18 in favor of the Dons. Subsequently, with the combination of Lourda Weeger and Jessyca Beksa up front, Santa Barbara secured the crosstown victory.
After the Dons’ libero Dane Miller dug the ball to Rottman, the Santa Barbara High student section almost couldn’t wait for Caroline Anderson to smash the ball down before charging onto the court to join the girls in celebration.
The Dons and Royals will duke out a rematch on Ocotober 21st, where Chloe Allen and Co. will seek revenge.
