Girls’ Volleyball: Sage Hill falls in four
It takes three sets to win a volleyball match. But the task will certainly be a little more difficult for Sage Hill School, now that it’s set of three can only contribute through the sheer volume of their legacy.
Lightning senior tri-captains Kekai Whitford, Maddy Abbott and Halland McKenna left everything, including post-match tears, on their home court in a 27-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-14 loss to Saddleback Valley Christian in the CIF State Southern California Regional Division III final on Tuesday night.
But the full measure of what the longtime Lightning standouts will leave Coach Dan Thomassen’s program, will transcend their amply impressive collection of accomplishments.
Whitford, a 5-foot-7 outside hitter, amassed 17 kills, 27 digs and two aces in the final match of her majestic career.
Abbott, a 5-9 setter, compiled 35 assists, 18 digs and three kills, while McKenna, a 5-7 outside hitter, posted 13 kills and 16 digs for a Lightning squad that finished 25-4.
And while the talented trio had plenty of help, it was the visiting Warriors (32-5), who covered the court and manned the net with greater collective will to advance to Saturday’s state title match.
“To be in the final four teams in the state is unbelievable,” said Thomassen, whose team lost leads of 9-2, 21-16 and 24-20 in the opening set. “To have a home match, our hopes were high. But that was a great team we lost to.
“I thought we played really, really well tonight, though maybe it wasn’t our absolute best match. We missed an opportunity in Game 1, when we had a lead and we let them get back. And we had a little chance to get them in Game 3 [rallying from a 24-20 deficit to stave off three set points, before succumbing] and we missed that. We haven’t had many matches like that this year, when games are hinging on one or two points every time. I like the way our girls played. Saddleback was just a little bit better at this point. If we play them 10 times, we probably go 5-5. I don’t think it was any one thing [that was the difference. The Warriors] were just really crisp and fresh tonight and they made plays look easy that teams we play usually don’t make.”
Whitford, Abbott and McKenna have been making plays for four years, helping the Lightning win CIF Southern Section titles in 2011, 2013 and this season, when they earned the Division 3AA crown.
Thomassen said saying goodbye will be difficult.
“It hasn’t hit me yet, because those four seniors [including reserve Ingrid Dickinson] mean so much,” Thomassen said. “Those three [starters] have been the triangular base to our tower. Losing one of them would be huge. Losing three of them is really going to challenge our younger girls to see who is going to take this program on their back. This is the hardest-working team we’ve ever had [and the seniors] set the tone for the younger girls. I think that’s going to pay off for our program in the future.”
Junior middle blocker Sophie Mossman had eight kills and freshman opposite Jade Blevins added six for the Lightning, who also lost in the regional final last season.
Sophomore libero Saher Rohani, sophomore middle blocker Jamie Daily – both starters – also contributed for Sage, as did junior back-row specialist Luna Aluzri.
But the Warriors, the Southern Section 3A champs who upset regional top seed Canyon Crest Academy of San Diego in the regional playoffs, were long, skilled and determined.
Saddleback Valley Christian had 13 team blocks, while Sage managed just two. And Warriors senior Sydnee Martin matched the Lightning’s ace total with four.
Senior captain Jaelyn Greene had 19 kills and four block assists to lead the winners, who also received 13 kills and three block assists from senior Heidi Dyer, as well as six kills and five block assists from junior Shannon Geraty.