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2006-07

Antelope Valley Girl's

VOLLEYBALL News & Articles

- AV Press Article Below -

Div III AA 11/07/06

Lancaster def Gahr
25-14, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21
The Eagles (11-1, 13-4) got a scare from the visitors, but pulled out a tight 4th game to advance. In that 4th game, Gahr rallied to tie the game 7-7. Neither team could muster more than a two point lead again until Lancaster scored three straight points to take a 20-17 lead. Ashley Robinson got the final kill to end the game, and send the Eagles on to the 2nd round. Roxy Neely and Alectra Edison had big games for Lancaster.

Gahr HS Head Coach Sonny Okamoto - also runs the CSLB Setter's Camp

Eagles dispatch of Gladiators in four

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Wednesday, November 8, 2006.

By JOHN SANDERS
Valley Press Sports Correspondent

LANCASTER - There's no telling what could happen when a volleyball match goes five games.

That's why when the Lancaster girls volleyball team had a chance to end its match in four games against visiting Gahr High of Cerritos it took full advantage.

The Eagles opened the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs with a 25-14, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21 victory against the Gladiators on Tuesday night at Lancaster High School.

"We would have liked to get them out in three. Going five games is stressful and frankly I can use a break," Lancaster coach Dave Gutierrez. "But had it gone five games I think we would have been OK. (Gahr) was solid. They weren't overwhelming, but they made few errors.

With the win the Eagles will face Barstow High School on Thursday in the second round of the playoffs. A coin toss today will determine the site of the match.

"In the beginning I think we were nervous," Lancaster's Ashley Robinson said. "But then we started to play our game and did what we had to do. I'm happy with our performance."

Lancaster, as it has done all season used a balanced offensive attack. Robinson led the Eagles (13-4) with 11 kills and five blocks. Teammate Alectra Edison added nine kills and four blocks. Seferina Starks and Roxy Neely added eight and seven kills respectively. Neely also added three blocks.

The Eagles dominated the first game jumping out to a 13-3 lead before the Gladiators (10-16) could blink. Starks and Heather Black each had four kills in that game. Sabrina Buie won seven service points for Lancaster.

"I thought we could have played better," Edison said. "It wasn't our best game. We knew they would come back in the second game."

Gahr did respond in the second game, capitalizing on many Lancaster mistakes. The Gladiators built an 11-4 lead only to be cut into as the Eagles eventually tied the score, 15-15. However, Gahr closed the game on a kill by Kaitlin Malone.

"We started making errors all at the same time in the second game," Gutierrez said. "I think there could have been some nerves. I don't think we controlled our emotions as well as we should have."

The Gladiators led 11-9 in the third game before Lancaster reeled off eight of the next nine points to take a 17-12 lead. The Eagles led 24-18, but Gahr tried mounting a comeback by winning the next three points. However, Edison made sure there would be no comeback as she finished off the game with a kill.

"I think we have things we can improve on," Gutierrez said. "I think we can always get better."

The fourth game was a seesaw battle as neither team would let the other make a run. However, that run finally came for the Eagles when they trailed 17-16 but scored the next four points to take a 20-17 lead. The Gladiators cut the score to 23-21, but that's as close as they would get. Gahr's Amber Finley hit the ball into the net on the final point, sealing the victory.

Finley led the Gladiators with a game-high 13 kills. Teammate Celeste Poe added six kills.