Chloe Mauceri 34) and Ally Mintzer combine to block an attack for the SBVC 14-Blue
The Santa Barbara Volleyball Club 16-Blue team went 4-1 in matches to move up to division 1 in Southern California Volleyball Association play.
The team had been placed in division 2 to start the season.
“We went into the weekend with the intention of moving up to division 1 and the team accomplished that goal!” stated Coach Ryan Walthall.
The team knocked off the first seed in its pool, Bakersfield Jamba 16-Parker, in two sets to start the morning. The team then edged out Club H 16-Kevin 18-25, 25-21, 15-13 in the next set and finished the pool off with a tight win over West Nike 16-Elte 26-24, 25-23. To move up a division, the team needed to win the first playoff round, and they did just that by sweeping T-Street 16-Ty 25-10, 25-16 before losing the one-set semifinal to Baja 16s 25-19.
“There are a few areas of improvement we will work on to prepare for our next tournament,” continued Walthall. “But overall I am proud with the work ethic of this team and like the direction we’re heading.”
The 14-Blue team learned the meaning of resilience. The team battled hard but lost all three matches in its division 3 pool. However, the team won the necessary match to hold on to its divisional standing. The team started its morning with back-to-back three-set matches, losing to Supernova 14-All Stars (21-25, 25-21, 15-11) and Impact 14-Craig (20-25, 25-16, 17-15) and finished pool with a two-set loss to 951 Elite 14s (26-24, 25-13).
The team then entered in the “death match” – a loss would relegate the team to division 4. Instead, the 14-Blue pushed through and beat SCVC 14-Roxy 22-25, 25-16, 15-6.
According to Coach Lisa Gera, “We showed maturity over the course of the day and left the gym feeling good about our playoff win! We had great offensive attacking by Ali Mintzer, Kendall Williams, and Georgia Brace. Our setters Ellie Chenoweth and Maddie Walker have shown great improvement over the course of the year and have more confidence and command of the court.”
The 14-White team maintained its divisional standing by taking second in its division 8 pool. The team won its first two matches of the day, beating So-Cal Jrs 14-Elite (29-27, 25-22) and Axis 14-Blue (25-16, 20-25, 15-7), then went the distance in its last match losing to Starlings Cudahy 14-Gray 20-25, 25-23, 16-14.
