Tehachapi KOs Exeter for Central Section Division III volleyball title
| Thursday, Nov 19 2009 10:24 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 19 2009 11:27 PM
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Michael Duffy / Special to The Californian Winning in three straight the Lady Warriors celebrate their Cetnral Section Division III championship. Pictured from left to right are Kelsey Kapitzke, Jasmine Julye, Paige Woodward, Jami Lankin, Shelby Flick and Sarah Horcher.
TEHACHAPI -- With four finals appearances in five years, and still nothing to show for it, something was bound give for the Tehachapi volleyball team.
That something came Thursday night.
The top-seeded Warriors, who lost in the Central Section Division III finals the past two seasons, took control early and cruised to a 25-17, 25-20, 25-18 victory over defending champion Exeter to finally capture that elusive title.
"This was the year we talked about, it's a mountain," said seven-year Tehachapi coach Sally White. "Every year we get our fingers up on the edge. In Tuesday's (semifinal) against Golden Valley we talked about getting a leg up. Tonight we needed to stand tall and proud on that mountain top and they definitely did it."
Tehachapi (29-4) also gained a measure of revenge against the No. 2 Monarchs (24-8), who swept the Warriors in last year's final.
Both teams will likely advance to the Division III state tournament, which starts next week. Seedings are scheduled to be announced Sunday.
"I'm just beyond excited," White said. "These girls deserve, this program deserves it, and the whole school deserves it. We've put in so much time."
Exeter was playing in its fourth straight final. The Monarchs won back-to-back Division IV championships in 2005 and 2006 before losing in the the '07 title match to Garces.
But Tehachapi had way too much fire power Tuesday night.
Senior outside hitter Sarah Horcher had a game-high 21 kills, including seven in Game 3 to close out the match. "It feels so good," said Horcher, who also had 11 digs. "We worked so hard and we just bonded together and we took (the title)."
After taking the opening game, Tehachapi took control of a see-saw battle in Game 2 with late 4-0 run capped by a Horcher kill for a 23-18 lead.
"We wanted revenge from last year," Horcher said. "We wanted it so bad.
"We watched video on them and learned about them. We just felt so confident and prepared to play them."
Sophomore Jasmine Julye had three tip kills during the rally and finished with 10 blocks and seven kills.
The Warriors also received 11 blocks from Persephonie Devereaux, seven blocks from Sarah Carpenetti and a game-high 20 assists from senior setter Paige Woodward.
"This team is just so together," White said. "They play together, they adore each other, they're friends off the court, they're friends on the court. They just a great group to work with. They love to learn and they love keep on fighting (for every point), and they did that tonight."
