Volleyball  2008 The AV Hub  Lancaster California  Antelope Valley Antelope Valley Hub California AV Business Directory Lancaster Palmdale Quartz Hill Littlerock Pearblossom Mojave Rosemond  LLano Crystal Aire Acton Agua Dulce Antelope Acres Lake Hughes Lake Elizabeth Mojave Desert Mountain High Lancaster Schools Palmdale Schools AV High School District Edwards Air Force Base Plant 42

2008

Paraclete not dispirited despite loss in finale

TEAMWORK - Paraclete's Val Dluzak, left, and Michelle Nixon block against Whittier Christian at Paraclete High School on Thursday. Paraclete lost to Whittier 3-2. MOLLY HAUXWELL/Valley Press

Best is Yet to Come

By ERIC BACA
Valley Press Staff Writer

While Whittier Christian defeated Paraclete 25-27, 25-20, 15-25, 25-21, 15-9 Thursday, the Spirits, who were swept by the Heralds in their previous meeting, feel like by taking the outright Alpha League champion to the distance, that they can make a long run into the playoffs.

The Heralds' win did end the potential three-way tie for the league title. The Spirits drop from a tie for second into third, while Windward ends the season in second.

"I think this game showed that we can play with anybody," senior Torie Mischel said. "I am very happy with the way that we played. I just don't think that we stepped up to the plate."

Spirits coach Margaret Neill, after almost watching the Spirits win their first league title in three years, said that the effort, combined with the addition of several last-minute pieces has yielded a more competitive Spirits team.

"They played well," Neill said. "We played with them. The kids know that they can play with anybody, especially when they play this. If you take away a few of those mistakes, it's a different game."

For only the second match in a row all season, the Spirits were at full-force, having battled injuries and other issues.

"We've played through a lot of issues and setbacks," Mischel said of the Spirits season. "But we've showed that we are good and that nothing can hold us back."

Mischel led the Spirits with 27 digs, Krista Novelli and Arlyne Stockhausen both had 15.

Offensively, Manu Tuiasosopo contributed 11 kills, Stockhausen had nine. Leana Moleta had 17 assists and Novelli had 20.

The multi-faceted threat of Tuiasosopo, Stockhausen, Michelle Nixon and Val Dluzak met a stronger front line than they were accustomed to. Several would-be kills were denied by the Heralds front line, leaving many points landing on the Spirits own side.

"It was so hard to get a kill," Dluzak said. "We don't really have that go-to-player, We've really had to rely on each other. Everyone has had to bring their game up."

Paraclete attempted to close out the Heralds in four, rallying back from an eight-point deficit to stall the once-expected final set. The short-lived momentum, though, eventually fizzled, forcing the fifth.

"We just need to eliminate those mistakes," Mischel said. "We need to get on top of that."

The Spirits' tandem of Dluzak and Tuiasosopo blasted the Spirits to a 7-7 tie after they trailed 4-1. Long returns and strong serving by Whittier Christian set up the match-clinching point, which dropped for a Herald ace.

The Heralds had routinely served long for much of the night, leading the Spirit backline to assume it was heading out of bounds.

As disheartening as the loss was, the Spirits know that the season isn't over just yet.

"(Going into the playoffs as the third place team), we have more desire," Dluzak said. "We want to prove everyone wrong."