Jager, Ostler propel SD Mesa to state women's volleyball quarters sweep over American River
S1 SAN DIEGO MESA d. N4 AMERICAN RIVER, 25-17, 25-21, 25-22
(WALNUT)--Riding the thundering swings of Kailyn Jager from the left toward the middle and Olivia Ostler on the right side, South #1 seed San Diego Mesa College advanced with a sweep over American River in the final quarterfinals match of four played Friday in the 3C2A State Women's Volleyball Championship played at Mt. San Antonio College.
Jager blasted 19 kills (hit .260) and added 13 digs and two blocks while Ostler hammered 12 kills as the duo shredded the Beavers defense. Mesa (27-2) setter Jaiden Mojica dished out 35 assists while Emily Eltrich delivered seven kills, 11 digs and two aces.
Mesa is 27-0 v. every team not known as its semifinal opponent as this sets up an all-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference semifinal on Saturday against Grossmont, the only team to defeat the Olympians this season--twice in conference play.
Mesa earned the top seed in the South due to its better RPI numbers compared to Grossmont.
"Jager has been our kill leader all year, but I think she has gotten even better, a more complete player as a finisher for us in the postseason," said Mesa head coach Bobbi Jo Stall-Vest. "Ostler is a redshirt sophomore who has been with our program for three years. She has developed into an outstanding opposite, raising her game this season. I really think we served tough and our defense made plays v. them all over the floor."
American River (24-7) saw an 11-match win streak end as the Beavers were paced by Morgan Castaneda with nine kills, Reese Ampi's 10 digs, plus five kills an three blocks by Allaina Houk.
Beavers head coach Carson Lowden said, "Our game plan was to defend their pins as best we could, but they just played very clean. I never felt we could get going offensively. We've been at our best when our two best hitters are scoring, but not tonight."
In the opening set, Mesa outscored ARC on attacks, 14-4, with Jager landing seven. A dump kill off the rim off the net dropped in for Mojica that closed out an 8-point first set win.
In set #2, the Beavers jumped ahead 5-0, but Mesa tied it at 9-9. The teams continued to trade points as Ostler rifled back-to-back kills for a 19-17 Olympians advantage. A Jager kill and then an ARC ball-handling error finished out a 4-point Mesa win and a 2-0 sets lead.
In third game, ARC again went up 4-0 only to see Mesa run off nine straight points on a serving run by Mojica. Attack errors by both teams littered the set with ARC tying it at 19-19. But Mesa's Eltrich unleashe two big kills and then Jager landed a howitzer blast for match point and the sweep.
The South region has three teams in the final four after being left out of the semifinals at both the 2021 and '22 tournaments. The South is looking for its first state title since Irvine Valley in 2017. Feather River, the defending state champions, is the only North team remaining and faces IVC at 2 p.m. Grossmont plays Mesa at 5 p.m.
Release by Robert Lewis, 3C2A/CCCWVCA SID
