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Junior Varsity Girls: Just before the Varsity took the floor for their match, the Junior Varsity teams met and battled it out. In the first game and with Santa Paula’s second service, the Cards Cassandra Tapia got hot early winning five points in a row that gave the Junior Lady Birds an 8 to 1 lead that was never challenged. With Santa Paula holding a 24 to 18 lead, the Cards Anahi Chavez blocked a shot at the net, winning the game point and helping to give the Lady Birds a one game lead. With Junior Varsity and Frosh games it is a best of three to win the match, so winning the first game is very important. In the second game, the match was close with Santa Paula holding a 9 to 7 lead. This was when in back to back serves, the Cardinals Michelle Bazan and Kenya Valdez won 3 points then 5 points jumping the Junior Lady Birds lead 18 to 8. With their heart still in it, but their skill level not close to Santa Paula’s, the Flashes eventually fade away and lose the second and final game of the match 13 to 25. Helping out the Junior Lady Cards sweep the Flashes were, Angelica Avila with 5 assists and 2 digs, Cassandra Tapia with 1 ace, 2 kills and 1 dig, Kenya Valdez with 1 ace, 1 assist and 2 digs, Emily Ramirez with 2 aces with 1 dig and Anahi Chavez with 3 kills and 3 blocks.
Frosh Girls: On the Frosh level, both teams get a feel for competitive play on a High School court. They also get exposed right away to the Santa Paula / Fillmore rivalry and the importance of not so much winning, compared to the priority of not losing. The first game becomes a baptism of fire for both teams as they battle neck and neck. With the game being tied at 1 to 1, 2 to 2, 5 to 5, 7 to 7, 9 to 9, 10 to 10, 17 to 17, 18 to 18, 19 to 19 and 20 to 20, both teams are as even as you can be waiting for a mistake from the other team. Fortunately, the Baby Cards slowly creep forward and held a 24 to 21 lead. Digging in deep Santa Paula’s Valery Bazan serves up an ace that is unreturned giving the Cardinals a one game lead, with one more win for the match. The second game starts out like the first game as both teams tie each other 6 to 6 and 12 to 12. This is when the Baby Lady Birds Mariah Herron takes off and scores 5 unanswered points eventually giving Santa Paula an 18 to 13 lead. They soon learn that a five point lead over your rival can mean nothing as the Baby Flashettes come back and soon tie the game at 20 points apiece. Gradually moving ahead, the Flashes have a 24 to 23 lead and end up winning on a misplay by Santa Paula. With both teams winning one game apiece, the final game and match goes to the first team to score 15 points. As Fillmore jumped out to a 7 to 3 lead, it did not look good for the Baby Birds in Red. But, what is a four point lead when it is a Santa Paula / Fillmore rivalry? Buckling down and not wanting to lose at home, the Lady Cards came back and with Mariah Herron and Valery Bazan scoring back to back with 4 points and 3 points, Santa Paula had a 14 to 11 advantage. Undeterred, the Baby Flashes stood tall, scored two more points and were down 13 to 14. With the crowd cheering and the players on the bench screaming, the Baby Lady Birds won the last point, giving Santa Paula’s Frosh Girls a 15 to 13 win and helping to build a foundation of great matches to come. Helping out the Baby Lady Birds were Gabriela Gamez with 5 assists, Kristina Barrios with 4 kills, 1 block shot and Natalie Segura with 9 aces and 1 dig. Next two home matches are against Malibu on Tuesday October 1st and Hueneme on Thursday October 3rd. Frosh at 4, JV at 5, Varsity at 6 p.m. Don’t forget the Alumni game Saturday October 5th, former players and coaches invited. For more information contact Coach Candace, 805-794-6355 or cmbibb1@gmail.com.
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Diana Aguilar and Yaharia Gonzales trying to stop a spike. |
