Last week, the Pirates faced a talented Paramount squad. Playing from behind for most of the first game, the nervous Pirates used tough serving by Skyler Jacobsen and Rachel Szeyller to catch up and win 27-25. “Skyler served when we were down 8-12 and got us even, and Rachel, under lots of pressure, brought us back from 20-24,” said coach Chip Fenenga.
Annika Bastanchury, playing on her 15th birthday, crushed a right-side kill to end the tight first game and seize the momentum for the Pirates. “That was a great set and big hit when it really mattered for us,” said the coach. Game two started with a huge stuff block by Danielle Carlson (six kills and three stuffs) and Delanee Stapp, followed by three points from Jacobsen. Then Mackenzie Mexico added two points on her serve. Defensively, Kaci Mexico and Sage Perry kept the ball in the air and vacuumed up any of Paramount’s harder swings.
Squires (10 kills and four aces) and Szeyller (seven kills and six aces) gave the victorious Pirates a lot of their hard hitting. Jacobsen (14 service points, including three aces) and Bastanchury (five kills and four aces) gave the home team much of its effective serving. The Pirates won game two 25-17 and game three 25-7. Game three started with Szyller serving five consecutive aces and Jacobsen serving the next 11 points.
Jackrabbits
Also last week, the Pirates took a four-hour drive to Victorville to play the Victor Valley Jackrabbits. “They are a 2,500-student school and have two experienced, tall middles, so with the travel, low temperatures, and small gym, we had a lot to overcome,” Fenenga said.
Game one was tight throughout with neither team able to make a run. The one constant, though, was the hitting of Squires, who hammered five of her match-high 28 kills in the first game. Down 24-23, the Pirates used strong serving by Szeyller and two key digs by Squires to take game one 26-24. Szeyller, who suffered with leg cramps throughout the match, was limited as a hitter to only seven kills, but was very effective passing and as a server.
“Rachel started us out strong with four points in the second game, but from that point on, we struggled as the Pirates melted down in a 12-25 loss,” the coach said. The Pirates responded well in the third game with three stuffs by Danielle Carlson against the Jackrabbits’ top hitter, and then Bastanchury began to dominate the right side with kill after kill. “Those blocks were huge and sent a big message,” the coach said. “Danielle responded well to the pressure, also adding seven kills. Bastanchury ended the night with 11 kills and five aces along with six digs and six assists in her best match of the season.
“They were so worried about Aly on the left side because she was a side-out machine that their middle had trouble getting over to close the block on the right,” Fenenga said. “Annika just hammered the ball in a great effort by the sophomore star.” The Pirates won game three 25-17 and game four 25-14.
“Aly was just on fire and showed her dominance tonight as she carried us defensively with eight digs, and just blasted 28 kills that left dents in the floor,” he added. “Squires, Bastanchury and Mackenzie Mexico may get much of the credit, but we hung together as a team and really responded to the challenge.”
Uphill battle
Before a loud crowd, the Pirates met a very experienced, athletic and tall Los Altos team that was ranked highly through most of the season. Playing very tight the first game, the Pirates lost a close one 23-25.
“We were right there, but they have three Division 1 kids on the team that were very consistent, the coach said. “Squires had some big kills, and Kaci Mexico made two exciting athletic digs against their top hitter, but we just seemed to be running uphill all night.”
Emilee Newton provided a spark with three jump-serve points and an ace to keep the Pirates close. Playing even at 11-11 and 15-15, the Pirates gave up the next four points on errors, and the Los Altos Eagles never looked back. Los Altos took the third game, 25-12, despite a great Stapp solo block, and the Pirates’ season ended. Squires ended her impressive high school career with 11 kills, Szeyller added six, Perry one and four digs, Carlson three kills and Bastanchury two kills.
“Much of our success the last four years has been based on Aly Squires, who has proved that she is one of the most talented athletes we have ever had at Santa Ynez High School,” Fenenga stated. “It’s always sad when the season ends, but this team was a great group of senior young ladies who accomplished so much and will be moving on to bigger and better things. “We have a very promising group of returning athletes who will have to compete for spots on next year’s team, but the future looks bright based on a foundation of excellence established by this team.”