From Staff Reports: It was a 90-mile drive and they got swept soundly by San Jacinto Valley Academy. But the Marshall girls volleyball program is looking up. The Eagles made their first postseason appearance since 2009 and did so in coach Sang Lee’s second year at the school. One year after going 1-11 in Mission […]
From Staff Reports:
It was a 90-mile drive and they got swept soundly by San Jacinto Valley Academy.
But the Marshall girls volleyball program is looking up.
The Eagles made their first postseason appearance since 2009 and did so in coach Sang Lee’s second year at the school.
One year after going 1-11 in Mission Valley League play, Marshall was in the CIF-SS Division 8 playoffs.
For Tuesday night’s wild card game, though, the Eagles didn’t play well enough to advance to the main bracket.
The Wolves defeated Marshall by identical scores of 25-15, 25-15 and 25-15.
Senior outside hitter Risejah Velasco finished her career at Marshall with 6 kills and 6 digs.
Bora Lim had a team-high 10 assists and also added 3 kills.
Malia Wilson added 4 assists and freshman middle blocker Kelaiyah Johnston finished with 3 kills and 2 solo blocks.
Junior outside hitter Lilah Fontenot added 3 kills and junior middle blocker Samia Dinniene had 2 solo blocks.
Junior defensive specialist Emily Plasencia contributed 2 aces.
And while the Marshall program is currently on a bus and headed back to Pasadena Thursday night, they should be incredibly proud of changing the culture at the school and for the program.
The Wolves move on to Thursday’s contest at Coachella Valley at 6.
Quotable:
Marshall coach Sang Lee: “We played poorly today. We made tons of hitting and service errors. Overall, it was a good year for us. We made progress. We feel good about our accomplishments this year, but we have a long way to go. So long as our players don’t get complacent in the off-season, we should be back next year in the playoffs. We can’t, as a program, be satisfied with just making it to the playoffs. We need more players sign up for club volleyball and we have to train hard, year-round.”
Marshall senior outside hitter Risejah Velasco: “In all the years I have played varsity volleyball for Marshall, we had never even gotten close to CIF until now. I am so happy that I was able to be a part of the new and upcoming Marshall volleyball program because this is just the beginning. I have no doubt that in the following years, Marshall will have this opportunity again and again. Good luck to the future of Marshall volleyball. It’s been a wild ride. As for today’s playoff game, I personally think we were off of our game, but I’m glad regardless, that we made it this far.”
Marshall senior libero North Steinbacher: “Marshall runs on a different system, a different code. For now, we are a developing team, a new beginning of Marshall volleyball. We have traveled far, but for now we are slow and unprepared with much more room to grow. But it will be the works of the upcoming girls joining the volleyball team that will very soon create a legacy. This year has been quite a journey, but I am glad to be a part of a program that is only going to be growing from here.”
Records: Marshall (10-15); San Jacinto Valley Academy (11-5)
