Paloma volleyball team finds new rival, scores big victory

Paloma's Lara Martinez goes up for the kill against two Liberty High defenders. (Photo by Carlos Renteria)

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Paloma Valley High School volleyball team took the victory against new crosstown rival Liberty High, 3-1, Tuesday night.

The Bison started out with the first win by a set score of 25-22. They had more than three 5-0 runs in that set and only trailed in the very first points. But the Wildcats came back fighting for the second set, taking it quickly, 25-16.

Then, in spite of an early 8-3 Bison run, Paloma took the lead at their 12th point and never gave it back, winning the final two sets 25-20 and 25-16.

Wildcats head coach Stephen Kaas said he was happy with the win, even though it wasn’t as clean as he would have preferred.

“We’re still working on a lot of things, but we’re getting closer,” he said. “The kids are trying to figure things out and listen to our game plan a little more. It’s all about trying to get them to be a part of it rather than try to be the whole thing.”

One big part of that team effort was Lara Martinez, who had 22 kills and two aces on the night. Kamryn Anderson also had 10 kills, while Paige Gurganious tallied eight of her own.

Defensively, the Wildcats were led by libero Grace Liesemeyer, who had 27 of the team’s 64 total digs on the night.

Kaas said Liesemeyer, along with Malia Jones (nine digs in the game), led the team in more ways than one.

“Defensively we look really great,” he said. “It comes down to that, Grace and Malia just dig everything, so it makes the rest of the team’s job pretty easy. Malia was our top passer again today and she and Grace really lead in that way and that’s helpful.”

Liesemeyer said her team’s closeness is what keeps them tough in close games that start out difficult like this one.

“Our team’s support and being dependent on each other keeps us tough,” she said. “It’s about being engaged and staying engaged but also being able to have fun because you have a teammate to lean on.”

The match point was scored by one of those teammates, Lacie Lomenick, who is a first-year varsity sophomore. Liesemeyer said seeing Lomenick and other younger teammates play in the final set was fun for her, a senior varsity veteran.

“It was so fun because I remember being that young player,” she said. “I know how good it feels to be in that spot. I love seeing it, and seeing them shine is so exciting.”

Another first time on the night was the inaugural meeting between the Bison and the Wildcats, as Liberty entered a new league this year.

Though they are not the only schools local to Menifee, Liesemeyer said she thinks the true rivalry will now be between Liberty and Paloma.

“I have a feeling we’ve found our new crosstown rivals,” she said. “It feels so good to come up with the first win in that rivalry, too.”

From the other side of the court, Bison head coach Morgan Spencer said, even with the loss, she’s proud of how her team went out.

“I’m really proud of the girls and how they played tonight,” she said. “We started strong but struggled once the other team started hitting well. Our girls served very well, and played hard, but in the end, Paloma deserved the win.”

She noted that Lilly Webb and Catalina Loven led the team with their mental toughness and hustle.

Liberty’s next match-up will be Thursday at Murrieta Valley, while Paloma’s turnaround is much quicker, as they will go to Temecula Valley today.