Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
A one-year playoff drought was long enough for the Crescenta Valley
High girls' volleyball team.
After failing to advance to the postseason last season for the
first time in Coach Jennifer Kunz Ryan's seven-year tenure, the
Falcons were determined to return to the playoffs -- and Hoover High
wasn't going to stand in their way Friday.
CV advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division IA playoffs by
defeating the host Tornadoes, 25-20, 25-21, 25-21 in a tie-breaking
match for third place in the Pacific League.
"I'm so excited to get back to the playoffs," said Falcon senior
setter Sandi Soderstrom, who finished with 14 assists. "This year, we
were really a team and we felt like a family.
"We were really pumped up [Friday]. We were really ready for it.
This is what it all came down to."
CV (8-12, 5-6 in league) looked like a focused team, and wasn't
fazed when the Tornadoes (7-7, 6-5) took a lead. Hoover had a lead in
each game, but it could never protect it.
The Falcons scored the final four points of the second game to
take a commanding lead.
"I don't think they were ready," Hoover assistant coach Charles
Min said. "I think they took it too lightly."
Laura Boyd had eight kills, and Myra Nishizaki had five kills for
the Falcons. Hoover's Lourdes Loyola had seven aces.
