From Staff Reports: After a long and impressive run, the 2018 girls volleyball season is finally over for Poly. The Panthers earned a share of the Prep League championship with Mayfield. Poly went on to a runner-up spot in the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs, falling in the title match at top-seeded Quartz Hill last Saturday. […]
From Staff Reports:
After a long and impressive run, the 2018 girls volleyball season is finally over for Poly.
The Panthers earned a share of the Prep League championship with Mayfield.
Poly went on to a runner-up spot in the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs, falling in the title match at top-seeded Quartz Hill last Saturday.
And then came Tuesday’s CIF State Division 2 first round match in Bakersfield.
Garces Memorial swept the visitors after the Panthers made a nearly 120-mile bus ride
The Rams earned the 25-18, 25-21 and 25-16 victory.
Garces Memorial will next face the same Bishop Montgomery program that Poly defeated in four games back in the CIF-SS D4 semifinal round.
Zoey Mao led Poly with team highs in kills (8), assists (31) and aces (7).
Ella Mao added 5 kills and Kate Salembier finished with 3 kills.
Lailah Green led Garces Memorial with 16 kills, 13 digs and four aces.
Perri Starkey added 14 kills, 12 digs, 4 blocks and a pair of aces.
Clarisse Tracy and Hailey Martin combined for 29 assists.
Back to Poly, though.
The Panthers had an impressive run in the playoffs, which included victories over No. 2 seeded St. Margarets and No. 3 ranked Bishop Montgomery.
Aside from losing senior Alexis Pappachan to graduation, the core of Poly’s roster will be back for what could be a magical 2019 season.
Quotable:
Poly coach Katrina Damasco: “The team that showed up in Bakersfield was not the same team that got us through the playoffs. They came out flat and struggled to find our rhythm and to hit our stride. You can’t help but think that the loss in the finals just three days prior may have had something to do with it. I am constantly having to remind myself of how young these girls are and rebounding so quickly is a tough. This, however does not take away from how exceptional this postseason has been. Coming into it the tenth seed, we fought our way up knocking off the #2 and #3 seeds along the way, leading us to the finals. This team showed so much heart and so much tenacity and I couldn’t be more proud! They’ve grown so much over the season and gained playoff experience to top it off. That makes me excited for next season.”
Records: Poly (19-7); Garces Memorial (30-9)
