Tehachapi News

Volleyball takes SSL championship

larger view larger view larger view

One of the major goals for 2009 has been officially checked off for Mountain Volleyball.

In one of their most dominating performances of the season, the Lady Warriors knocked off perennial power Bakersfield Christian in three games, 25-9, 25-21, 25-15, and with it, clinched the South Sequoia League title.

“It feels great to win, to beat them twice this year was awesome,” said Tehachapi outside hitter Sarah Horcher. “We really just came together this year. It’s been great so far.”

Horcher led the dominating performance over the Eagles with 14 kills, five blocks and 12 digs, helping to orchestrate an impressive performance at net that had the Lady Warriors totaling a season-high 42 blocks in a three game match performance.

“We just really took control up front, what an amazing effort,” said head coach Sally White. “They played the way they were capable of playing. It was a near perfect game.”

Other strong performers included Jasmine Julye with 16 blocks and eight kills, Persephonie Devereaux with 10 blocks, Sarah Carpenetti with nine blocks and four kills, and Paige Woodward with 19 assists, six kills and two blocks.

Kelsey Kapitzke also had seven digs while Jami Lankin had five digs, four aces and 17 points won on serve.

Closing out the week, Tehachapi also took victories over Wasco (26-24, 25-14, 25-18) and Taft (25-15, 25-15, 25-20).

“We have another challenge ahead of us and it should be a very exciting round of playoffs,” White said. “We encourage everyone to come out and support us.”

Tehachapi (26-4; 10-0 SSL) earned the No. 1 seed in the CIF Division III playoffs, and will face the winner of No. 8 Granite Hills Porterville and No. 9 Hoover-Fresno this Thursday, Nov. 12 at home. The match will start at 7 p.m.

“We’re ready for the playoffs, we can’t wait to get started,” added Horcher. “We’re happy to win SSL, now we can focus on getting back to the (section) championship.”
 
Junior Varsity

The Lady Braves closed their season with a 6-4 league mark, defeating Bakersfield Christian (19-25, 25-19, 15-10), Wasco (25-13, 15-21) in the final week of league play.

Against the Eagles, Tarryn Macon had 16 serves with two aces, Taylor Cross had five kills and five blocks, Colleen Chung had have five kills and Danielle Coontz had six blocks.

“The girls really hustled and communicated against BCHS,” said head coach Tracy Lankin. “Our setters Amanda (Borst) and Ashley (Young) were quick and focused, it was the best that I saw our girls play.”

Against Wasco, the Lady Braves avenged an early season defeat with Carley Cass recording four kills, Coontz four kills, and Savannah Olofson three kills. Tehachapi closed the season with a defeat to Taft 25-22, 25-23, with Delaney Dragomanovich tallying 10 assists, Cross six kills, Danielle Villa three kills and 10 digs, and Savannah Rosenberg eight digs.

“They improved as the season wore on and continued to grow as athletes,” added Lankin. “They went hard and had fun, it was a good year.”
 
Freshmen

Tehachapi closed out the last week of the season with a thrilling victory over Bakersfield Christian, defeating the Eagles 25-16, 21-25, 15-9 to give them a 6-2 mark in SSL play heading into their final two games.

Leading the Lady Indians to victory over the Eagles was Ariel Diehl with seven kills and a block, Casey Miller with three aces and a kill, and Danielle Simpson with two kills, an ace and a block.

The frosh/soph group also completed a season sweep over Arvin this season, defeating the Lady Bears 25-11, 25-10 and 25-23, 25-12.

Megan Johnson had three four kills in both games, while Jade Delgadillo had four aces and two kills. Camille Searfoss also had three aces in the first Arvin contest, while Ariel Diehl had six kills and an ace in both games combined.