Wildcats lose volleyball playoff opener in five sets

Mia Rosas goes up for the kill in Paloma Valley's volleyball playoff match. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Paloma Valley girls volleyball team lost its first-round match of the CIF playoffs Thursday night at home against Valley Christian.

After each team had won one set, Paloma 25-21 then Valley Christian 25-22 , they were on equal ground going into the third. Valley Christian started set three with a 7-3 run, tying Paloma’s largest lead up until that point in the night. Then a swift comeback from the Wildcats had them up by as much as 15 points by the end of the third set, which they won 25-10.

But the Defenders had a comeback of their own with a 25-16 win in the fourth set to force the decisive fifth. Paloma trailed the entire fifth set, although the biggest point deficit was only three points, keeping the crowd at the edge of their seats for the final points of the set.

After being down 14-12, Paloma came back to tie it at 14. But a Defender attack followed by an unfortunate Wildcat miscommunication on the front line gave Valley Christian the win, sending them into the second round and ending Paloma's season.

The momentum from the first set win is what head coach Stephen Kaas said he was hoping would make the difference for his team, as it has been a driving factor for them this whole season.

"That’s something we talk about all the time, momentum and ways to keep it," said Kaas. "Not just having it but keeping it and finding out ways to stay aggressive. At the end, the other team made the magic happen when they needed to by being aggressive and staying on top of it."

When the momentum was lacking on the Wildcat side, Mia Rosas was usually one that provided the push they needed. She ended the night with 21 kills on 66 attacks, leading the team in that category. But it's not something she views as a role for her to fill, but just a simple part of her game.

"I don’t really see it as pressure but as an opportunity," Rosas said of the role she played as a playmaker for her team.

Paige Gurganious and Malia Jones led the team in service with five aces each and Grace Liesemeyer led the team with 22 defensive digs on the night.

The Wildcats ended the season as league champions and what Rosas said is a team bond that she hasn’t seen on any other team.

"We were kind of underdogs but I want people to know that this feels like the closest team I’ve been on," said Rosas. "It’s the support system we needed when things got tough."

This is the fourth league championship season in five years for the Wildcats, who finished the season with an overall record of 17-5.

Cadence Croxton digs the ball during Thursday's playoff action. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Hannah Welch sets the ball during the Wildcats' CIF playoff match. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 Elle Scott spikes the ball against two defenders on Thursday night. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)