ORANGE — The Sequoia Ravens put together a thrilling NorCal regional run with three straight five-set victories, but the magic ended in the CIF Division III state girls volleyball final.
On Saturday afternoon at Santiago Canyon College in Orange, Academy of Our Lady of Peace swept Sequoia 25-18, 25-23, 25-19.
The San Diego-based Pilots were stronger and taller at the net, holding Sequoia to sub-.100 attack percentages in each of the three sets. Samantha McMurtry led Sequoia (25-16) with 13 kills and Katalina Tuipulotu added 10 kills and 15 digs. Jayda McGlennon had 30 assists.
OLP (22-11) was paced by Charlotte Wickstrand with 13 kills. Three other Pilots had between six and eight kills in their diverse attack.
“We executed well,” Sequoia coach Bryant Tran said. “We played a little too safe, but we were right there with them. We had first set jitters, but then got over that. Our serve receive was excellent today.”
After dropping the first set, Sequoia settled in and led much of the second set. But OLP caught up at 18-18. Tied at 23-23, the Pilots prevailed on a Sequoia hitting error and a Talia Butler block.
On the afternoon, OLP recorded 16 blocks to just four for the Ravens.
“Nobody dropped faith,” McGlennon said. “Everyone was there and wanting to win.”
Serve receive and defense kept Sequoia in the match all day. Libero Joslin Fiel had 12 digs, coupled with an amazing 16 serve receives without an error. However, the Pilots were dominant at the net.
The third set was competitive until, at 18-17 in favor of OLP, a late five-point run enabled them to pull away.
“They have an amazing setter (Caitlin Prior),” McMurtry said. “It was hard to read where she was going to go.”
Tuipulotu shined for Sequoia. She put down six balls in the first set but OLP got hands on hits by her and others and their back-row defense was stellar.
“We did a lot of scouting,” OLP coach Mary-Kate Catton said. “We were actively blocking line and we had our middle follow their middles closely.”