SARATOGA - The Grossmont Griffins captured a record third 3C2A Beach Volleyball State Championship with a gritty 3-2 win over Ventura College on Thursday afternoon at West Valley College that fittingly came down to an exciting three-set matchup between the teams' 5's pairs.
Grossmont (22-6) entered the state championship tournament as the fourth seed from Southern California after its runner-up finish in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference but it showed resolve and determination on its way to a hard-fought title that included all three of Thursday's wins by identical 3-2 scores. The Griffins opened with a close victory over Cabrillo in their pool play opener before edging Orange Coast by the same score in their second. That led Grossmont to the title tilt against Ventura, winner of the other pool with a perfect 2-0 record, in an all-SoCal championship, and once again the Griffins needed a 3-2 score to come out victorious.
The championship was knotted at 2-2 heading to the 5's match between Grossmont's Hannah Werner and Chelsea Trendler and Ventura's Bryce Swain and Kylie Ibbotson. Swain/Ibbotson took the first set 21-19 to set the stage for what turned out to be an epic second set. Grossmont grabbed a 25-24 lead on a Trendler pokey, and then sent it a third set on a Trendler ace.
The teams traded side-outs in the third until Werner found an open corner for a 10-7 Griffins lead. The Pirates took advantage of a hitting error to climb to within 13-11, but Werner's pokey and an ace clinched the reverse sweep for the Griffins and set off a celebration dogpile in the sand.
It was an appropriate ending for Grossmont, according to Griffins coach Jamie Ivers.
"It was fitting that it came down to our 5's," she said. "That pairing had the most three-set matches of all our pairs this season and they won every one."
While the Griffins were holding off Cabrillo in the day's opener and Orange Coast two matches later to capture its pool and land the first spot in the title match, Ventura rolled past Santa Barbara City 4-1 and then topped Feather River 3-1 in the semifinal to reach the final.
"We've been preaching resilience all season," Ivers said. "We talk about doing our job and fighting for every point."
They did their job Friday in three tight duals to win the 2023 CCCAA Beach Volleyball State Championship. The win gives Ivers her third title, surpassing Irvine Valley's Tom Pestolisi, who retired after winning the 2022 crown.
Competition continues at the state championship on Friday as 32 pairs teams from throughout the state compete in pool play action with an eye toward advancing to bracket play and an eventual state title on Saturday.
CHAMPIONSHIP: (S4) Grossmont 3, (S1) Ventura 2
1's: Madison Bogle/Alana Embry (GRS) defeat Autumn Rojelio/Kayla Murdoch (VEN) 21-11, 21-15
2's: Ashley Johnson/Olivia Sletten (VEN) defeat Haven Del Guidice/Amanda Pena (GRS) 21-17, 21-8
3's: Averi Carter/Katey Mulville (VEN) defeat Rylie Suggett/Aly Guise (GRS) 21-8, 21-9
4's: Lauren Dum/Kortney Hitt (GRS) defeat Alba Romanos Gracia/Grace Williams (VEN) 21-10, 21-13
5's: Hannah Werner/Chelsea Trendler (GRS) defeat Bryce Swain/Kylie Ibbotson (VEN) 19-21, 26-24, 15-11
(Matt Folsom, West Valley College Athletics)