Canyons Beats Cabrillo In Five, Advances to Face Pierce College

The state tourney's host school Canyons continued its miraculous postseason run by moving into the winner's bracket with a thrilling 5-set victory over North top seed Cabrillo before a jam-packed Cougars' gymnasium.

COC ended Cabrillo's 24-match win streak while extending its string to 16 in a row.

COC rallied from a set down and went up 2-1 before the Seahawks responded with a 5-point, fourth set win. In the fifth set, Canyons went ahead 8-5 at the break before Cabrillo went on a 4-0 run and tied it at 9-9. COC regained the advantage at 13-10 but again the Seahawks roared back to get to match point at 15-14. A saving dig by Alyssa Nelson landed for a point that had tied it at 14-14.

Canyons All-American OH Emily Bible, who put on a defensive clinic throughout the contest, made a brilliant left-handed save that was followed by a Cabrillo attack error to send it to extra points in the extra set. Bible then got a little luck on the ensuing serve as Nelson's serve receive hit the gym's raised basketball backboard near the ceiling, and fell for the point. Bible completed the upset with another ace near the backline for match point, 17-15.

Bible finished with 13 kills and a match-high 23 digs. Alexa Hesseldenz contributed 12 kills and four blocks. All-Region setter Katie Rutecki dished out 50 assists with 10 digs and six kills while Alize Bricot scored 11 kills. Brooke Garelick totaled eight kills and 17 digs and Erica Magee knocked down nine kills.

For Cabrillo, All-State OH Marcela Frazzoni pounded 15 kills and had 11 digs and Nelson added 22 digs. Natalie Picone scored seven kills and 10 digs and Patrice Williams was a big factor at the net with five kills and seven blocks. Williams had back-to-back blocks that capped Cabrillo's first set win. All-Region setter Eden Fukushima totaled 34 assists, 13 digs and two aces.

In set 2, COC trailed 17-16, but went on a 9-2 run to knot the match at 1-1. In the third set, Bible put on a show with four kills and eight digs including an amazing floor save that was tipped over for a kill by Rutecki. COC finished the set win with an 11-1 run capped by a Bible kill.

Cabrillo wasn't fazed and won set 4 thanks to an 8-3 run that turned a close game into a 20-14 lead. COC though would pull out the victory.

Cabrillo faces Foothill on Sunday at 10am in the first elimination match of the state tournament.

Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA/CCCAA State WVB SID, rmlewis@pasadena.edu