Santa Ynez High School girls volleyball had a very busy and successful week. In their home opener on Tuesday night, the Pirates swept the St. Joseph Knights at all three levels.The varsity cruised past the Knights 25-13, 25-14, 25-13. Rachel Szeyller had 12 kills to lead the Pirates in hitting.
“Rachel was solid and consistent providing leadership and first ball kills,“ said Coach Chip Fenenga. Danielle Carlson added 4 kills and 4 stuffs along with Emilie Newton blasting 4 kills. “We served well and forced them to hit outside, where we have a strong block behind Delanee Stapp (4 stuffs) and Annika Bastanchury (3 stuffs and 4 kills). The Knights had a tall and experienced team but were kept off balance all night by the setting of Stapp and the Pirates’ team blocking.
Wednesday night the teams travelled to Pioneer Valley where the Pirates again swept the Panthers at all levels with the varsity winning 25-9, 25-12, 25-8.
“Everyone got in and made good things happen,“ said Fenenga. Paige Lockhart had an impressive varsity debut with 5 kills in 7 swings and 3 aces. She seemed slightly nervous until the ball was set to her and she just rose above all the others and crushed it.”
Emilie Newton had a 12-point service run in the second game, and some key passes and digs were provided by Devon Williams, who also added a high jumping solo stuff. Friday and Saturday the varsity travelled to the prestigious Archbishop Mitty Tournament arguably one of the top tournaments in the USA with 16 top teams from around the state and nation participating. “We were invited last year and because of our showing, were invited back this season and played some great volleyball over the two days,“ said Fenenga.
In match play, the team started out against CIF defending Division 1 champion Redondo Union. The two All-CIF Dykstra sisters and a young Hannah Mosebar provided plenty of weapons for the Sea Hawks. Showing no nerves or fear, the Pirates battled the taller team to a close 25-19, 25-21, 25-20 loss.
“They were solid, but we found ways to score with Danielle Carson and Rachel Szeyller each getting 9 kills and Delanee Stapp confidently controlling the offense. I also was very impressed by Kaci Mexico, who played brilliantly as our libero getting 12 digs in the match and really stopping some rockets. When we finished, we all felt that with cleaning up some errors, we could have shocked that team.” A highlight was the serving in the third game by Devon de Werd, who kept the Pirates in the match for 4 points.
Next up for the Pirates was Nebraska’s defending state champion Millard North from Omaha. “They had seven kids taller than our tallest player on the boys’ team.”
All were more than 6 feet and they could hit. “The match started out with their 6-foot-4-inch setter shooting a ball out to their 6-foot-3-inch outside committed to Division 1 powerhouse University of Nebraska, and she swung high and fast and that ball was dug by Kaci Mexico you just witnessed a battle starting. Ellen Hemming had a really good match for us getting 7 kills and serving well. “When she passes well and gets kills we are a much better team.” Danielle Carlson again was consistently blasting kills from all over the court getting 11 in the match and 4 stuffs. We really had no answer for their setter as she moved the ball around well and could attack as well as anyone to open areas. “On one play the ball was dug 2 feet over the net to our side and she jumped reaching high over Carlson and brought the ball back to her middle hitter.” The Pirates hung close but lost 25-22, 25-21, 25-16. In the third game, serving and hitting errors hurt the Pirates’ chances. Roxy Clark came in to help the Pirates but momentum had clearly swung to the Mustangs.
Saturday, the Pirates’ next opponent was two-time defending CIF Champion Oak Ridge from El Dorado. Still playing good volleyball, the Pirates cut down on errors and played well, but still lost 25-22, 25-22, 25-21. Middle hitter Emilie Newton added 4 solo stuffs and started to get into gear adding 5 kills. Junior opposite Annika Bastanchury began to make her presence known, adding 6 kills and 3 stuffs along with 3 aces.
Said the coach: “They served us well and we had some issues there, but we played them very even. Devon Williams, Ashley Carroll and Kaci Mexico steadied the team passing, as the Trojans really pushed out outsides hard to pass well.”
The last match was against Fresno area champion Bullard High School. In gut-check time, the Pirates came out together and focused and won a close 25-14, 25-16, 22-25, 25-22 battle. “To come out with pride and desire their last match really showed character and their ability to compete after a long week,” stated Fenenga.
Newton, Bastanchury and Hemming all had a strong match, combining for 18 kills and 7 stuffs. Ashley Carroll, Danielle Carlson and Kaci Mexico added 19 digs and key passes, but when it was crunch time, setter Stapp found Szeyller for the critical kills.
For the tournament, Szeyller had 40 kills and 10 digs, Carlson 31 kills, 22 digs and 16 stuffs, and Stapp added 137 assists, 6 stuffs. Mexico had 32 digs and passed at a 1.89 with 31 attempts. Newton had 18 kills and 11 stuffs along with 4 aces. “This was a great experience, and the kids represented the school and our community well,” added Fenenga.
— Staff Report