Alert! Alert! Do not approach Western Christian High School’s varsity volleyball team with a green uniform on if you are favored and have players that the Lancers couldn’t match heights with even in high heels. It can be hazardous. Don’t touch it with a 10-mile pole. Whether you’re the rival that hasn’t lost to the Lancers in 4 years or the number 4 team in Division 4AA. Pick another color. Anything. Go see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat if you need some ideas. Watch Sesame Street. Promote Breast Cancer Awareness and come in Pink. Do what Notre Dame sometimes does, only in reverse. You want to take your chances and show up in green? It hasn’t worked out so well 2 of the last 3 times and that 3rd time was a real corker.
The Sage Hill Lightning entered the Lancer gym at about 6:00pm on Thursday night. The Lancer Volleyball Blogger was there and got to greet them and can testify that they were a very polite bunch of girls. Their coach, Dan, was a respectful gentleman and very gracious about being the one to travel 50 miles from Newport Coast to Upland in So Cal traffic. In fact, the whole night the team seemed to lack any kind of arrogant attitude. They were friendly and when it came time to play, businesslike. If the Lancers’ season had to end (doesn’t everybody’s) then this was the kind of team to lose to.
Besides, it seemed inevitable. Very few of them were shorter than 5’ 11”. The blogger ought to know. That’s his height. The cost of attending Sage Hill is, oh, 3 times the cost of Western so it figured they might have 1 or 2 players that have played club volleyball since they were 3 years old.
Prior to the start of the game the Lady Lancers stood at the baseline holding bouquets of flowers as the host team’s gift to the visitors. They met the green-clad Lightning at the net and exchanged pleasantries. They came bearing gifts of their own for the Lancers. They were nicely wrapped buttons that said, I made it to the 2nd round! (just kidding! J). Western student Alex did an excellent job singing the national anthem, savoring every word.
Prior to the match the word in the stands was that Brittany Lamon-Parades would not be playing due to a wrist strain suffered in the last match against Crossroads. That turned out to be anything but true. The wrist injury was real. But Britt played through the pain in one of the most courageous performances in Lancer history.
I’ll say this for the match. Every set was tied at 1-1 and again at 2-2 but it was never quite that close at the end. Not quite.
Senior Kelsey Doolittle led off the serving. What?!! You mean, the one who gets pulled by the Lancer coaches at the beginning of every game and told to ”grab some pine”? Yep. There were limits to the physics of what the human wrist structure can endure so Kelsey was charged with replacing Britt’s service duties. And an excellent job she did. Her second serve was an ace that took the score to 9-10.
At that point, Lightning struck and everything went Sage Hill’s way. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 points in a row. They mercifully committed an attack error to make it 10-20 but then cruised for the next 5 to win the set 25-10.
Next thing you knew, the Lancers were gone from the building. They crossed to switch sides with the Lightning and kept going out the Northwest door. Uh, did that door lock behind them? “Get them out, take them out!”, Mrs. B had said to Assistant Coach Becca Lewis. It must have seemed like a good time to get some fresh air. Or have a pep talk. Or re-enter the gym as if the match was starting over. All we need you to do, Lancers, is win 2 out of the next 3 so you’ll have a chance in a tie breaker… against a team ranked 4th in your division who just whipped you 25-10. Any questions? No, why didn’t you just ask the first time?
2nd set. 2-2 tie. 3 consecutive attacks errors of all varieties from the Lightning – net, long, wide. And the Lancers never let it get closer than 2 from that point on, until the score was 10-5 and then it never got closer than 5, until the score was 24-14 and then it never got closer than 10. 6 Lancer kills and 1 service ace, all by the seniors, and 3 blocks, the final point a block by the duo of Senior Jessica Arguelles and Junior Taylor Pierini. The Lancers looked to the bench and asked their jaw-dropped leaders, anything else coach?
3rd set. 2-2 tie. 4-0 run for the Lightning. A kill by Kelsey and 3 by Sophomore Lyndsey Carruthers brings the score to 9-10. It’s as close as the Lancers would get as Sage Hill outscores them 15-5 to end the 3rd at 25-14.
Reality check? No, gut check.
4th set. 2-2 tie. The Lancers build up a 5-2 lead after a Jessica Arguelles ace. The Lightning have caught them at 11-11. An ace by Junior Alexa Cordero gives the Lancers a 14-12 lead. But, after that the lead for either team would be no more that 1 point over the next 19 points scored during which time there were 9 ties and 4 lead changes. A time out was called by Western trailing 21-22, potentially 3 points from the end of their season.
An over-the-top violation is called on the Lightning. Kelsey strikes again with a hit that caroms off the Lightning defense. Pierini taps it over the net. The Lightning can’t handle it. Senior Chelsea Cramer serves. The Lancers brace for the attack but the ball sails long! The Lancers have tied it at 2 sets a piece!
Tie breaker. 2-2 tie. Cramer takes advantage of a Lightning overpass and sends the ball straight down. 4-4 tie. And then the Lightning decide they cannot let the Lancers take them to the limit. Sorry, too late. The Lightening get the next 5 and lead 9-4. Will the Lancer season spiral out of control here at the end? Hang in there Lancers. If you have to go down, make them beat you. Make your last stand at Sage Hill. It will sound like an old war story.
The Lancers keep the ball alive long enough for the Lightning to make 2 attack errors – one into the net and the 2nd on a tap that was too short. The Lightning offense tried to hit the black hole in the middle of the Lancers court which they had effectively abused more than once on the night. This time the attacker misjudged or was intimidated by the Lancer presence at the net. Next point, Chelsea Cramer delivers a strong kill. 7-9. You’re close Lancers.
Then, a Lightning attack sends Brittany Lamon-Parades, who had reached out to intercept the hit, to the floor. She lay on her side like a quarterback that has just taken a direct hit from a helmet. The gym hushes quickly. All night long, Britt had winced in pain, or could have, with every ball she had handled. Except for handling her service duties, she didn’t miss a single point from her normal rotation. And, now she was giving the saying, “leave everything you have on the court” a brand new meaning. How bad would it be? Incredibly, she told Mrs. B she wanted to stay in. She wanted to finish. Surrounded by coaches and players and with incredible fortitude Britt rose from the court. Mrs. B asked the head official if she could remain in the game. The official nodded.
In a classic display of sportsmanship and unselfishness, the Lightning, who could have served right at Britt, did not. Their coach had been sending in signals all night, hidden from the Lancers but viewable from the stands. Whether by plan or accident the next two services arrived to Britt’s left. She would have the chance to play 2 more balls before the match was over and both of them were handled perfectly although the Lightning took the next 4 points. 7-13. The end could have come in just 2 more points but it was still actually 7 points away.
Lyndsey Carruthers attacks and kills. Chelsea Cramer goes back near the wall and waits to serve. While doing so she spins the ball on her pinky like she has been doing all night. The students respond and extend pinkies. Chelsea has been so professional all night. Never once has she looked over and acknowledged the students. Instead she keeps her calm and relaxed game face and confident eyes roving between coach and official waiting for the service signal. But, this time it is different. Ever so slightly, she glances at her fellow students and breaks into a smile. Did the attention cause her to lose focus? You tell me. She served up an ace!
On the next point Taylor Pierini jumps and blocks for a point. The Lancers have scored 3 in a row! 10-13. A scuffle for the ball takes place on top of the net and a Lancer is called for being over the top. A Lightning service error ensues.
At the second match point for the Lightning the ball is handed to Kelsey Doolittle to serve. No senior wants to see her career and her team’s season to end on a service error. Kelsey attacks aggressively anyway. The ball hits the net…. at the top and falls on the Lightning side. They attempt to handle it but are called for a double! 12-14! Kelsey back to serve again. This one arcs over the net into the Lightening court… bump… set… spike. No way it can be handled.
The Lancers gathered at the center of their court. It’s the unthinkable moment of nearly every team’s season when the reality of the end must be dealt with. You don’t plan for it. It just comes. And then you realize you can do more to change the price of tea in China than bring on just one more serve. Emotions take over. Seniors know there will be no practice for them next Spring. The time for volleyball is over. Someone bring out the basketballs.
The Lancer players and coached huddled in a tight circle for a long time. What was said the LVB does not know. It’s their moments. It’s their feelings. It stays inside the circle.
But a larger circle was forming. Dozens of fans - parents, family, friends, former players, students - impassioned by the valiant, unexpected, turn-around season they had witnessed, refused to let these players go without the appreciation they deserved. They gave us so much. Their circle returned to the court. Jose Arguelles led a cheer. L-A-N-C-E-R-S!..... L-A-N-C-E-R-S! The players and coaches were absolutely surrounded by love and affection.
There was so much that was right about the end. No Lancer player had to live with committing the error that ended the season. The final 7 points were scored with only one Lancer error, and that one had been a battle over a frozen ball on top of the net. The Lancers were in the warmth and beauty of their own gym. They were hailed by a thunderous crowd of students who regarded them as heroes. They were beaten by a team who at first proved their superiority and then had to fight to maintain equality.
In the 2009 volleyball season, no other team out of 43 in Division 4AA had completed a more successful turnaround than the Western Christian High School Lancers.
On the night of November 12, 2009, 70% of the teams in the playoffs had been eliminated. In the 2nd round, 8 teams were defeated, leaving only 8 teams remaining, all of them ranked in the top 10.
Only one team had taken their opponent to 5 sets.
Only one had been within 3 points of an upset.
November 12, 2009 at Upland | ||||||
Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Final | |
Sage Hill | 25 | 14 | 25 | 22 | 15 | 3 |
Western Christian | 10 | 25 | 14 | 25 | 12 | 2 |
| Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
Western Christian |
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Points Earned | 5 | 14 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 44 |
Points Given Away | 14 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 50 |
Sage Hill |
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Points Earned | 11 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 52 |
Points Given Away | 5 | 14 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 45 |
Varsity Roster | |||
No. | Name | Position | Year |
2 | Gaby Peraza | Defensive Specialist | Sr. |
3 | Taylor Pierini | Setter/Outside Hitter | Jr. |
4 | Chelsea Cramer | Setter/Opposite Hitter | Sr. |
5 | Kelsey Doolittle | Opposite Hitter | Sr. |
6 | Jessica Arguelles | Middle Blocker | Sr. |
7 | Brooke Bernard | Outside Hitter | Fr. |
8 | Brittany Lamon-Parades | Libero | Jr. |
9 | Alexa Cordero | Setter/Opposite Hitter | Jr. |
10 | Lyndsey Carruthers | Outside Hitter | Soph. |
12 | Stephanie Yeung | Defensive Specialist | Sr. |
13 | Jasmine Lara | Middle Blocker | Jr. |
17 | Vicky Rorex | Defensive Specialist | Sr. |
Head Coach: Dawn Bartholomew | |||
Assisstant Coach: Becca Lewis | |||
Team Statistician: Paige Oldham | |||
VARSITY SCHEDULE / RESULTS
Date | Day | Opponent | Site | Time | Results | Record |
8-Sep | Tuesday | Walnut | Walnut | 3:15pm | L, 0-3 | scrimmage |
10-Sep | Thursday | University Prep | cancelled | |||
12-Sep | Saturday | Pasadena Poly Tournament | ||||
15-Sep | Tuesday | Calvary Murrieta | Club West | 6:00pm | L, 1-3 | 0 - 1 |
17-Sep | Thursday | Bell-Jeff | Club West | 6:00om | W, 3-0 | 1 - 1 |
19-Sep | Saturday | Arcadia Tournament | ||||
19-Sep | Saturday | Arcadia | Arcadia |
| L, 0-2 | 1 - 2 |
19-Sep | Saturday | Hemet | Arcadia |
| W, 2-0 | 2 - 2 |
19-Sep | Saturday | South Pasadena | Arcadia |
| W, 2-0 | 3 - 2 |
22-Sep | Tuesday | Acad for Aca Excel | Club West |
| W, 3-0 | 4 - 2 |
25-Sep | Friday | Calvary Downey | Downey | 5:00pm | W, 3-1 | 5 - 2 |
6-Oct | Tuesday | Pomona Catholic | Damien | 6:00pm | W, 3-0 | 1-0, 6-2 |
8-Oct | Thursday | Arrowhead Christian | Upland | 6:00pm | L, 1-3 | 1-1, 6-3 |
9-Oct | Friday | Webb | Webb | 5:30pm | W, 3-1 | 1-1, 7-3 |
13-Oct | Tuesday | Aquinas | Upland | 6:00pm | W, 3-1 | 2-1, 8-3 |
15-Oct | Thursday | Loma Linda Academy | Loma Linda | 6:00pm | W, 3-1 | 3-1, 9-3 |
20-Oct | Tuesday | Ontario Christian | Upland | 6:00pm | W, 3-0 | 4-1, 10-3 |
22-Oct | Thursday | Pomona Catholic | Upland | 6:00pm | L, 1-3 | 4-2, 10-4 |
27-Oct | Tuesday | Arrowhead Christian | Arrowhead | 6:00pm | L, 0-3 | 4-3, 10-5 |
29-Oct | Thursday | Aquinas | Aquinas | 6:00pm | W, 3-0 | 5-3, 11-5 |
3-Nov | Tuesday | Loma Linda Academy | Upland | 6:00pm | W, 3-0 | 6-3, 12-5 |
5-Nov | Thursday | Ontario Christian | Ontario | 6:00pm | W, 3-2 | 7-3, 13-5 |
CIF-Southern Section Playoffs | ||||||
10-Nov | Tuesday | Crossroads | Upland | 7:00pm | W, 3-1 | 14 - 5 |
12-Nov | Thursday | Sage Hill | Upland | 7:00pm | L. 2-3 | 14 - 6 |
2009 LANCER OPPONENTS IN THE PLAYOFFS
· 1st round - #2 St. Margarets d. Aquinas, 3-0
· 2nd round - #1 Whittier Christian d. Ontario Christian, 3-0
· 2nd round - #9 Mary Star of the Sea d. #8 Calvary Murrieta, 3-1
· 2nd round - #7 Laguna Blanca d. #10 Arrowhead Christian, 3-0
· 2nd round - #6 Paraclete d. Summit, 3-0
Playoff bracket realities meant that at least 2 top ten teams would be eliminated by the end of the 2nd round, since only 8 teams make the quarter finals. Those 2 teams were #8 Calvary Murrieta and #10 Arrowhead Christian. Only top 10 teams are participating in the quarter finals - #1 thru #7 and #9.
DIVISION 4AA CIF-SS/TOYOTA 2009 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS | |||||||
1ST ROUND | 2ND ROUND | QTR FINALS | SEMI-FINALS | FINALS | |||
TUES., NOV. 10 | THURS., NOV. 12 | SAT., NOV. 14 | TUES., NOV. 17 | FRI.-SAT. | |||
NOV. 20-21 | |||||||
Whittier Chr | Alpha #1 | CYPRESS | |||||
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| *Whittier Chr | COLLEGE | ||||
BYE |
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*Patriot | Sunkist #2 |
| *Whittier Chr |
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| Ontario Chr | 25-13,25-7,25-13 | ||||
Ontario Chr | Christian #3 | 22-25,25-23,25-20,15-25,15-12 |
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*Mary Star of Sea | Camino Real #1 |
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| Mary Star of the Sea |
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Cate | Condor at-lrg | 25-11,25-14,25-19 |
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Calvary Murrieta | Big Sky #1 |
| Mary Star of the Sea |
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| *Calvary Murrieta | 17-25,26-24,25-23,25-19 |
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BYE |
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Viewpoint | Liberty #1 |
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| *Viewpoint |
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BYE |
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*Thacher | Condor #2 |
| *Viewpoint |
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5:00pm |
| Serra | 25-20,25-18,25-19 |
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Serra | Camino Real #3 | 25-16,25-22,25-22 |
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*Western Chr | Christian #2 | F |
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Crossroads | Alpha at-lrg | 25-20,25-12,18-25,25-17 |
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*Sage Hill | Academy #2 | F | Sage Hill |
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| Sage Hill | 25-11,14-25,25-14,22-25,15-12 |
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Jurupa Valley | Sunkist #3 | 25-11,27-25,25-15 |
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*Windward | Alpha #2 | ||||||
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Providence | Liberty #3 | 25-4,25-15,25-17 | |||||
*Linfield Chr | Big Sky #2 | 6:00pm F | *Windward |
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| *Linfield Chr | 25-14,25-13,25-20 |
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Brethren Chr | Academy #3 | 25-17,25-16,22-25,23-25,15-12 |
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*Arrowhead Chr | Christian #1 | F |
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Norte Vista | Sunkist at-lrg | 25-12,25-8,26-24 |
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Laguna Blanca | Condor #1 |
| Laguna Blanca |
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| *Laguna Blanca | 25-19,25-18,25-17 |
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BYE |
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Summit | Sunkist #1 |
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| *Summit |
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BYE |
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*Buckley | Liberty #2 |
| *Paraclete |
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| Paraclete | 25-19,25-22,25-19 |
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Paraclete | Alpha #3 | 25-20,26-24,25-16 |
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*St. Monica Catholic | Camino Real #2 |
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| St Monica Cath. | 5:00pm |
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Riverside Chr | Big Sky #3 | 25-19,25-22,25-17 |
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*St. Margaret's | Academy #1 | F | St Margaret's | ||||
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| *St Margaret's | 25-19,32-30,25-20 | ||||
Aquinas | Christian at-lrg | 25-13,25-15,25-17 | |||||
*Denotes Host Team | |||||||
The Lancer Volleyball Blog is not through yet.
Reporting will be continued through the playoffs.
David Doolittle reporting.
