Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- Crescenta Valley High girls' volleyball Coach
Jennifer Kunz isn't shy about admitting her team belonged nowhere near
the top 10 of the CIF Southern Section Division IA rankings.
But since the Falcons were knocked out of the rankings early in
Pacific League play, CV has had a transformation, putting away weaker
opponents instead of letting them hang around in a match, and finding
different ways to come out on top.
CV put a memorable end to its league season, erasing a two-game
deficit to defeat Hoover, 12-15, 11-15, 15-10, 15-12, 15-12, on Wednesday at Hoover High.
"We wanted the win," Kunz said. "I think we were overexcited [to start
the match]. But we kept our composure.
"We basically put it to the girls, if they want to continue playing
they have to win."
The win clinched Kunz's fifth consecutive postseason appearance and
ended league-rival Glendale's bid to advance to the playoffs for the
first time since 1997.
If the Falcons (6-11, 6-4 in league) had lost, they would have had to
face Glendale (7-9, 5-5 in league) at 3:15 p.m. Friday in a one-match
playoff.
As Nitro Coach Michelle Capozzoli and several of her players watched
from the bleachers, CV self-destructed in the first two games, committing
30 unforced errors.
Capozzoli started to conjure up a gameplan against CV, but before she
knew it the Falcons clawed their way back in the match.
Led by the usual strong trio of middle blocker Amanda Martin (nine
blocks), setter Carley Crystal (30 assists) and outside hitter Kristen
Cameron (11 kills and five aces), the Falcons rallied to force the
deciding game.
After losing the first two games to a Hoover team that was without one
of its top players, Lilit Arvahi -- who was suspended by Coach Deb Cohen
for the first two games because she showed up later than the team's
mandatory arrival time -- CV relied on its big trio to step up.
Balls that were flying just out of bounds and into the net earlier in
the match for CV, landed just inside the line as Hoover players
helplessly watched on.
CV ran off seven straight points to start the fifth game.
Led by Christinna Hoggatt's play at the net, Hoover rallied back,
taking a 10-7 lead.
But similar to past experiences, the Tornadoes blew their advantage as
Hoggatt watched from the bench.
CV scored eight of the final 10 points, and put an end to its
playoff-clinching win when Tati Velazquez's second ace.
"As much as I wanted to go to CIF, I'm extremely happy for CV,"
Capozzoli said. "They never gave up. They played with heart.
"CV deserved to win."
BOX SCORE
CV*12*11*15*15*15
Hoover*15*15*10*12*12
CV -- Cameron 11 kills and 5 aces, Kosztowny 8 kills, Martin 9 blocks,
Stanley 6 blocks, Crystal 30 assists.
HOOVER -- Hoggatt 18 kills and 10 blocks, Yanow 9 kills, Avetyan 4
aces, Rodriguez 18 assists, Arvahi 16 assists.
