Plus, scores from around the first round in girls’ volleyball
Total-team effort led Valencia to a first-round win over the Western Christian Fighting Lancers of Upland on Wednesday as the Vikings secured a four-set win, 25-20, 20-25, 25-14, 25-14, and advanced to the second round of the girls’ volleyball Division 5 playoffs.
“We had so many people step up. We played great. It’s nice to get the nerves out and the first one done,” Valencia coach Kristin Dolan said afterward.
The Vikings, who entered the playoffs as the No. 115 ranked team in the Southern Section’s rankings, were awarded with a home matchup for the first round. Dolan said that with the first-round matchup, she wanted her Vikings to come out of the gates with energy.
And that’s exactly what the Vikings did.
Valencia secured the first-set win, 25-20, with defense proving timely for the Vikings as senior middle blocker Taijah Ellis blocked a Western Christian attack for the set-clinching point.
But in the second set, the Fighting Lancers came out with renewed energy and took advantage of Valencia’s mistakes. The Vikings dropped the second set, 20-25, but it wasn’t a concern for Dolan and the Vikings.
“No one is going to give it to you. You’re going to have to go out and earn every single point,” Dolan said of what she told her team between sets. “You’ve already lost the set … so go out and have fun and you got to take it.”
In the next two sets, the Vikings won comfortably and snagged their 24th win of the year and advanced to the second round of the Division 5 playoffs.
For the second round, the Vikings will be back on their home court at Valencia High School as the team is set to welcome the El Toro Chargers of Lake Forest, who are coming off a straight-set sweep over Troy in the first round.
While the Vikings will look forward to staying at home for another round, Dolan reiterated that her team would work extra hard on the court and film room to continue their playoff journey.
“We’re going to work on a few things to get better, but we know each round is just going to get tougher,” Dolan said. “So, we need to bring the best version of ourselves each round, and that’ll be our goal.”
Saturday’s second-round matchup between the Chargers and the Vikings is scheduled for first serve at 6 p.m. at Valencia High School.
After Wednesday’s games, here are scores from around the first round:
Thousand Oaks 3, Saugus 2: Following a second-place finish in the Foothill League, the Centurions entered the Division 3 playoffs with momentum as winners of their last three games.
But after a five-set thriller, the Centurions fell on the road in the first round to Thousand Oaks and were eliminated from the playoffs.
Canyon 3, Moorpark 0: For the first time in two years, the Cowboys are playoff winners following a straight set sweep over the Moorpark Musketeers and advanced to the second round of the Division 5 playoffs.
On Saturday, the Cowboys will take on the Hesperia Christian Patriots, who are coming off a sweep over Peninsula in the first round.
Saturday’s second-round matchup between the Cowboys and Patriots Is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Hesperia Christian High School.
Nordhoff 3, Trinity 0: Following an unbeaten Heritage League championship winning season, the Trinity Knights fell in the first round of the Division 7 playoffs to the Nordhoff Rangers of Ojai.
With the loss, the Knights are eliminated from the playoffs.
St. Lestonnac 3, Santa Clarita Christian 2: After a second-place finish in the Heritage League standings, the Santa Clarita Christian Cardinals were defeated in the first round of the Division 9 playoffs to the Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic School Mustangs of Temecula.
With the loss, the Cardinals are eliminated from the playoffs.
Photos below from Valencia’s win on Thursday:
