State women's volleyball quarterfinal: Grossmont serves up 4-set win over Fresno

S3 GROSSMONT d. N2 FRESNO CITY, 25-13, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21

(WALNUT) -- Grossmont College scored four players in double figures in kills and overcame 19 service errors to get past Fresno City in four sets in a quarterfinals victory at the 3C2A State Women's Volleyball Championship on Friday. It was the Griffins 21st consecutive win while they ended a 16-match win string by the Rams.

Grossmont (27-1) came into the tourney as the #3 seed, but were ranked as the South's #1 team for most of the regular season as the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference undefeated champions. 

The Griffins had a decided edge in digs, 69-50, and disrupted Fresno's passing game with hard serving.

"Our game plan is to always use an aggressive serve to get the other team out of system, and while we had more giveaway points due to nerves, I'm okay with going after aces over losing a point" said Grossmont head coach Brooke Callahan. "In the past few state tournaments, we've had a go-to #1 hitter like Lexi Morris and Madi Bogle, but this is the first time we have been scoring from different sources. Opponents have to respect that we can score from the outside, at opposite and in the middle. We hit really well in the first two sets. It helps also that we have such a steady libero who is going to dig everything."

Avery Banaag led that Griffins' defensive effort with a match-high 21 digs to go with seven assists. Kate Beezer floored 13 kills with 11 digs while Alyson Guise pounded 13 kills (hit .478) with four aces. Joanna Verdugo-Del Real added 10 kills and 16 digs while lefty opposite Amanda Pena ripped 10 kills (.364). Alyssa De Young added six kills and five blocks. 

For Fresno (26-5), All-American Druegan Davis notched a triple-double on 14 kills, 11 digs and 10 set assists, and Mia Dilley was solid on 19 digs while serving three aces. 

"Grossmont was scrapping, outdefended us, and the middle (Guise) made it tough on us," said Fresno head coach Kieran Roblee. "We've had a good tradition of making it to the state tournament, but this sophomore class was special. We had such tremendous sophomore leadership all season and it's why were able to get here again. Super proud of them."

In the opening set, Grossmont's serve resulted in three straight aces by Guise, then Pena was a perfect 4-for-4 on attacks. The Griffins hit .407 in a 12-point win. In set #2, It was more solid hitting thanks in part to the setting of Trendler. An ace by Verdugo-Del Real helped Grossmont open a 13-7 lead. Fresno eventually tied it at 19-19 before Beezer bombed a pair of kills to close out a 3-point win and a 2-1 sets lead.

In the third, Fresno trailed 14-11, but the Rams went on a 6-1 run capped by a Davis kill to lead 17-15. A sky hook type kill by Davis landed for set point, cutting Grossmont's lead to 2-1.

Grossmont's Banaag served a tremendous 7-0 run to help her squad take a commanding 15-7 lead. Down 19-11, FCC refused to quit and scored the next five points, including an ace by Dilley. Fresno saved three match points, the last on a kill by Katelyn Goforth, but Guise closed it out with a kill after a timeout to clinch the victory.

Grossmont plays the winner of the S1 San Diego Mesa v. N4 American River match in the semifinals on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Release by Robert Lewis, 3C2A/CCCWVCA SID