Bruin volleyball makes second-round exit

LOOMIS — Despite a valiant comeback in Thursday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division II quarterfinal playoff match, Ponderosa High's volleyball season ended at the hands of host Del Oro, which won in four, 18-25, 19-25, 25-23, 26-28.

The Lady Bruins, after dropping the first two sets, had little choice but to stretch the match to the limit and nearly did as the fourth game went to overtime. Lindsey Bowles' kill had Ponderosa up 25-24 but the Bruins failed to dig the Golden Eagles' next serve and then trailed when Del Oro was awarded the next point on a blown out-of-bounds call. Ponderosa, already miffed by what it perceived to be "questionable ball-handling (non)calls the entire evening," drew a yellow card and never recovered.

With the stakes at win-or-go-home, the Bruins failed to match Del Oro's early energy and intensity and thus found themselves in a deep hole. Ponderosa showed flashes of dominance — Lianna Sybeldon's block, dunk-tap, block on consecutive points in the second set — but never put together much consistency until its back was to the wall.

"We've always had trouble in first games and things just didn't go well in those first two and we fell apart," Ponderosa coach Sheri Millhollin. "Had we had it going sooner it would have definitely helped our chances."

Led by libero Ali Lindsey, Ponderosa literally dug out of its hole in the third set with its first lead of the evening. Layne Davidson's ace, Sarah Walker's block and kills from Hailey Bellmer, Sybeldon and Bowles had the Bruins up 20-12 before Del Oro's 7-0 run tightened the score.

Bowles' two kills and one from Bellmer gave Ponderosa a 24-22 lead and after a Golden Eagle point, Sybeldon blocked a Del Oro spike, called for Alex Mettler's pass and put the ball away to switch the benches.

"We're definitely disappointed in how we played but we didn't want to go out the last game hanging our heads," Sybeldon said. "We played them before and beat them (3-0 in Loomis) but they've really improved and we weren't expecting the fight."

While Del Oro, seeded fourth, didn't have a star player to match what Sybeldon brought to the table, the Golden Eagles did have a solid core in Morgan Lees, Tatum Jungsten, Stephanie Solich, Amand Heyn and Amy Heyn.

Del Oro threatened to pull away early in the fourth set but Sybeldon's redirected hit on Bowles' kill and unforced errors by the hosts kept the No. 12 Bruins close as action swung back and forth. Ponderosa battled as Sybeldon tapped down a dig, Bellmer landed a kill and staved off defeat on Bowles' kill and Walker's block of an errant pass.

Bowles' point on her hit off the block put Ponderosa ahead 25-24 but Del Oro tied the score and pushed in front on a point the Bruins vehemently disputed. The Golden Eagles next serve found the net but Ponderosa's serve sailed way long. A Bruin misplay ended it.

"We finally got our offense and defense going and the team didn't want to go out without putting up a good fight. Some girls had their best nights," Millhollin said. "Had we won that (disputed) point we probably win the game. It was basically the biggest play. It was definitely the home court advantage that was a factor."

Statistically, Sybeldon had 14 kills, six blocks, 19 digs and 10 service receives; Bowles had 10 kills, 12 digs and 14 serve receives; Bellmer six kills, 14 digs, 21 serve receives; Lindsey 19 digs and 12 serve receives; Davidson nine digs, 12 serve receives, three aces; Mettler 24 assists; Walker three blocks.

Ponderosa finishes with a 23-10 record.

Jerry Heinzer

Jerry Heinzer is going on 12 years as an employee of the Mountain Democrat and is currently the Sports Editor. Contact Jerry at 530-344-5074 or jheinzer@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @ JHeinzerMtDemo on Twitter.

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