Tawa’s HS Dots: A Cornerstone second and hugs at Excessive Sierra, elsewhere

Coach Mike Carter mentioned that his crew performed its finest match within the quarterfinals versus Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. Each Berkeley Prep of Tampa and Winter Park supplied stiff competitors for Cornerstone Christian.

• Final yr, Cornerstone Christian completed 55-2, enjoying an unbiased schedule that had the Warriors touring out of state a number of instances. One of many two losses got here on the Nike ToC Southeast, within the championship match to stunning Westminster Christian of Miami. Westminster went on to win 27 straight within the common season earlier than being dumped by Clearwater Central Catholic within the Florida 3A championship match.

Westminster Christian, also referred to as the “Warriors,” didn’t fare fairly as nicely on the ToC this yr. Regardless of returning a number of of its high gamers, together with Gigi Artiles, one of many nation’s high sophomores, the Miami college, famously residence to baseball Corridor of Famer Alex Rodriguez, misplaced to Viera (and Colorado transplant Izzyy Starck)  in pool play, then fell twice extra, to Calvary Christian of Clearwater and Tampa Plant, in bracket play.

• The Match of Champions is definitely three tournaments in a single. Cornerstone Christian gained the Nationwide division. The Premier Division went to Ransom-Everglades (my alma mater!) of Miami. Westminster Academy prevailed within the Elite Division.

• Within the days main as much as the ToC, the Washington Put up ran a function on Mehdi El Alaoui, the veteran coach of Virginia personal college energy Bishop O’Connell, the two-time reigning Washington Athletic Convention champions. The Moroccan native mentioned that he blended worldwide types with the American model of the game to create a singular strategy that has served the Knights nicely.

Certainly, after graduating only one starter, Bishop O’Connell got here into the season with maybe probably the most gifted roster in its historical past, one with seven gamers not less than 6 ft tall. The crew was so extremely regarded that it was ranked No. 2 within the Put up’s pre-season rankings, behind always-tough Flint Hill.

If there’s one factor I’ve realized over greater than twenty years masking the game, it’s that conventional volleyball hotbeds are inclined to fare higher towards powerhouse groups from less-developed volleyball areas. That proved to be the case for Bishop O’Connell on the ToC. The Knights, with no heat up matches regionally to shake off the rust earlier than making the journey south, went 0-3 on Day 1 within the Premier Division that Ransom gained, then went 1-2 in bracket play, together with a 15-13 Recreation 3 loss to same-state Virginia Academy. Senior setter Erin Debiec, a Colorado State commit, had a pleasant match for the Knights.

Bishop O’Connell will get its native slate underway on Friday versus Archbishop Spalding…

• In Reno, the Excessive Sierra Match title went to Colorado’s Valor Christian. The Eagles are off to a 9-0 begin to the season and are on a 38-match unbeaten streak after a 29-0 yr on the best way to a 5A state title in 2022.

Valor, which graduated seven off of final yr’s crew, has a brand new look this yr, aside from the trio of setter Chloe Elarton, hitter Delany Russell and center Grace Langer, who have been all instrumental of the crew’s success in Reno.

“The crew this yr is clearly a brand new group, however the tradition is remaining constant,” mentioned head coach Jayne McHugh. “They flat out love being with each other! The 5 seniors are wonderful and supply such nice consistency!”

One different fixed is McHugh herself. The previous head coach on the College of Pacific in Stockton took the job at Valor in 2019, after a stint teaching St. Mary’s Excessive Faculty of Stockton. So it should have been emotional for McHugh to face off towards and defeat St. Mary’s within the championship match.

“One of the best half was hugging younger women that I taught in center college!” she exclaimed.

• The 24-team Hawaii Labor Day Basic, hosted by Kamehameha Hawaii, featured groups from Colorado, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona, along with faculties from the Islands.

Iolani, the defending Hawaii 4A champion was the highest seed, and performed prefer it via two swimming pools and one match. However the Raiders misplaced within the semifinals, to Otay Ranch out of San Diego County, and the Mustangs gained as soon as extra, over state-ranked California aspect Campbell Corridor, to take the title.

Otay Ranch (15-2) was undefeated heading to Hawaii however employed the “survive and advance” strategy to pool play, going 2-1 on each Friday and Saturday to make the championship bracket. The Mustangs misplaced to the host college, a state semifinalist final yr; on Day 1; then fell to the state champs on Day 2. After outlasting a superb Roosevelt crew from California’s Southern Part in three to begin bracket play, and a superb Kalaheo crew, Otay Ranch discovered itself matched up with Iolani as soon as extra.

“I’m fairly positive they have been very assured since they had already crushed us earlier than,” mentioned coach Michael Pandaan. 

The match, identical to the 2 earlier than it, went to a few units.

Stated Pandaan: “I informed the women, ‘We have now nothing to lose if we lose to this crew,  but when we win you’ll have crushed the state champions and top-of-the-line groups in Hawaii.’”

Otay Ranch jumped to an enormous lead within the third and Iolani couldn’t recuperate.

Campbell Corridor defeated Kamehameha Hawaii within the different semifinal, creating an all-Golden State battle for the title.

Enjoying nice protection, led by liberos Karina Garcia and Olivia Lorenzana, who have been wonderful over three days; Otay Ranch gained Recreation 1. Campbell Corridor was relentless and took the second set handily, 25-19.

Within the third set, Pandaan instructed his setters to push the ball quick to the pins and let their middles resolve who they needed to block towards.

“My three pin hitters are all very quick,” Pandaan mentioned. “We set up that and went on a serving run and gained the set 15-9.”

Pandaan mentioned that outsides Ximena Cordero and Dayiah McFadden and RS Andrea Torres all had spotlight moments within the win.

Otay Ranch performs state-ranked Westview of San Diego on Thursday, with designs on breaking into the state rankings.

• Final yr, Kickapoo defeated Nixa within the District ultimate and went on to achieve the Missouri Class 5 championship match, the place it misplaced to Lafayette. Quick ahead one yr and each Kickapoo and Nixa are undefeated a day earlier than the rematch at Nixa.

Kickapoo is 9-0 and has solely dropped two units all season. The Chiefs returned All-State libero Kya Johnson and All-State hitter Bella Faria in addition to a number of different complementary items, together with setters Reagan Greenway and Hannah Gardner, and DS Emma Eaton.

“The Volleychiefs have lofty objectives for this season,” mentioned Kickapoo coach Marci Adams. “Within the first couple weeks we’ve proven maturity in our management and communication. This crew trusts one another and that’s led to a number of gamers taking dangers and exhibiting up in large performs.  We have now a number of challenges forward of us that can present adversity. We wish to reply with consistency and grit.”

In the meantime, Nixa, which graduated two All-State gamers from final yr’s 29-8 crew, is off to a 5-0 begin, which features a large win over three-time defending Arkansas large-class champion Fayetteville.  The Eagles are led by setter Jacy Bray and two robust middles, senior Ava Owens and junior Chloe Judd, who each hit over .600 within the Fayetteville win.

“The primary 5 video games of the season have given us precious alternatives to study and develop as a crew,” mentioned Nixa coach Annie Zimmerman.  “This week’s sport versus Kickapoo can be an enormous check.  They return nearly all of their roster from final yr’s state runner up crew, so we should play at a excessive degree constantly all through the match to place ourselves ready to win.  Serve and go, as at all times, will dictate loads on this match, however I believe the crew that maintains their composure via prolonged rallies will in the end decide the ultimate final result.”

• With Fayetteville having graduated its two All-Individuals in Kenna Phelan, now a beginning setter at Florida State; and Brooke Rockwell, a Stanford seaside volleyball signee; will the torch go this season to final yr’s 6A runner up Southside of Fort Smith?

“Any yr, it’s anybody’s sport…” mentioned Southside head coach Natalie Throneberry. “I’ve realized that on this sport! I believe we’ve got a whole lot of talent, expertise, and a whole lot of depth that makes us a risk. However so do a whole lot of different groups. Strain is a privilege and we don’t take that calmly in our fitness center.”

The Mavericks are 6-0 in 2023 heading into in the present day’s match towards 8-2 Har-Ber.

“After we are doing nicely, we have a good time the great, determine the unhealthy, and have a tough apply the following day,” Throneberry defined. “After we are struggling, we have a good time the great, determine the unhealthy, and have a tough apply the following day. Which may be what helped this season begin off robust. Our ladies selected the phrase ‘unity’ as their focus phrase. We’ve spent a whole lot of vitality dwelling that phrase out and specializing in working as a 29-person unit quite than chasing particular person consideration and accolades.”

Throneberry added that her crew has large objectives for 2023 that date again to final yr’s ultimate.

“Going again to October 29, 2022, I didn’t come right into a locker room filled with devastation and despair after falling to Fayetteville within the 6A State Finals,” the coach defined. “There was positively some disappointment being the final match for a few of our gamers, however the temper was totally different than I’ve ever skilled. They noticed all the pieces they achieved, how nicely they did, and likewise how unhealthy they know that they need an opportunity at that match once more in 2023. They weren’t down and out… they have been simply getting began. That could be a large motivator. They got here on this season with that mindset they usually haven’t been content material, at all times working to increase that mindset. I’m pleased with how they’ve dealt with large moments up to now. We’ll face adversity, however this crew is supplied to deal with it. We love enjoying volleyball. We’ll hold enjoying onerous and see the way it goes!”

• Final spring, we informed you about Gabby Orlet, the 5-11 setter from the St. Louis space who was again on the courtroom after two bouts with most cancers.

Greater than two years in the past, when Gabby was in eighth grade, she was identified with a cancerous tumor that disintegrated a vertebra. The daughter of famed highschool coach Lisa Orlet missed her freshman season after two again surgical procedures, and, when the most cancers returned in her lungs, she required chemo and immunotherapy that she’s going to want month-to-month for the remainder of her life.

We checked in with this brave junior and found that she is off to a quick begin setting the Althoff Catholic Crusaders. By 23 units, Gabby had amassed 192 assists, 75 digs and 30 kills.

“She has her good days and never so good days,” mentioned coach Brice Miller. “However she’s very communicative about when she wants a break on account of her situation. She works onerous and is a pacesetter on and off the courtroom. Enjoying clever, she’s top-of-the-line setters within the St. Louis space. She’s labored onerous to enhance on her location and tempo pushing. She can be one of many extra constantly aggressive (and profitable) setters with regards to attacking on the second contact that I’ve seen in a very long time.”

Gabby additionally performs soccer, however her mother mentioned that volleyball is her predominant love. She hopes to play collegiately.

We can be rooting for her.

• Sunny Hills of Fullerton, California, gained the Varsity OC Invitational on Saturday, behind the dominant play of senior Kayla Taylor and robust help from freshmen Olivia Urias and Hannah Oh.

However the Lancers don’t make this 10-Dot nationwide column on the power of successful an area match. They achieve this as a result of four-year varsity participant, 5-7 senior center Noor Francisco, performed in 4 of the crew’s 5 matches.

Francisco was informed {that a} knee damage would hold her off the courtroom for her senior yr. Certainly, she has informed my docs to not stroll as a result of the knee lacked stability. Just a few weeks in the past, she had the coaches and gamers in tears sharing the information of her prognosis. One week later, together with her physician’s permission, she put down the crutches, acquired again on the courtroom and practiced with the crew. On Saturday, she noticed her first motion of the yr and performed in 4 of the 5 matches, recording 10 kills, six digs and two blocks.

“Noor is such a decided particular person,” mentioned coach Amanda Donaldson. “She will put her thoughts to something and she or he is thrilled to have the ability to assist her beloved teammates this season chase after a league title. After three earlier years on varsity grinding day in and day trip, we’re all overjoyed to see that her senior season gained’t be taken away from this child who has fought so onerous to get right here.”

Till subsequent time …