Cabrillo Advances To State Final Match vs LA Pierce

State Championship Brackets

at College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita

Match 5—N1 Cabrillo v. S2 Canyons 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-22)
Records: Cabrillo 28-2, Canyons  26-4
Canyons finishes its season, 3rd place at the state tournament

A rematch of last night's 5-set thriller was all Cabrillo as the Seahawks won their second match of the day in a sweep over the host team Canyons.

Cabrillo controlled the match from the get-go with a 5-0 lead that it built to 16-8. Picone dropped in back-to-back kills to close out the first set victory. The Seahawks hit .367 in the opening set.

In set 2, libero Alyssa Nelson served on seven straight Seahawks' points, three for aces as Cabrillo jumped out to a commanding 8-0 advantage. The closest Canyons could get was at 9-6 as Picone again drilled set point for a 2-0 sets lead.

In the third set, COC showed life taking its first lead of the match at 3-2. The teams traded nine ties and four lead changes. Eden Fukushima's ace gave Cabrillo a 14-13 lead. Leading 18-15, the point of the match happened on a long rally where Chloe Dane made a diving save and moments later Williams planted a solo block. Frazzoni finished things with a kill for match point.

Once again, Cabrillo's Marcela Frazzoni was her team's go-to hitter as she blasted 15 kills while Patrice Williams dominated play at the net with nine kills (just 11 attempts). Natalie Picone, whose defense was a big factor in the win over morning win over Foothill, added solid hitting to her second match with 11 kills (hit .320). Nelson made 13 digs and Vanessa Ditz added 11.

"I really can't explain why we came out so flat, but maybe we expended too much energy and emotion in our matches last night playing in front of our home crowd," said COC head coach Lisa Hooper.  "Cabrillo played far better, especially (Frazzoni).

Hooper talked about her team's highest finish in school history in third place.

"I really thought that my team last year had the best chance of reaching a state tourney especially because we had a big sophomore class. I didn't know what to expect from this year's team, but we had a very balanced group and we demonstrated great determination in coming together. I think the players on this squad will remember being a part of this state tournament the rest of their lives. I always say that sports is a metaphor for life with the volume turned up."

Cabrillo adds to its impressive performances at the state tournament. After a state title in 2013 and a state second place in 2014, the Seahawks will attempt to knock of South No. 1 seed Pierce in the championship final. Even if it beats Pierce, Cabrillo would then have to win an extra set to 25 in order to win the state crown.

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

photo by Richard Quinton