By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor La Salle volleyball coach Tiare Tuitama didn’t think her Lancers played up to their potential in Tuesday night’s CIF-SS Division 3 opener with visiting Ayala. If that was the case, the rest of the Division 3 bracket better look out, because the Lancers swept Ayala, 25-23, 25-13 and 25-23, in […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
La Salle volleyball coach Tiare Tuitama didn’t think her Lancers played up to their potential in Tuesday night’s CIF-SS Division 3 opener with visiting Ayala.
If that was the case, the rest of the Division 3 bracket better look out, because the Lancers swept Ayala, 25-23, 25-13 and 25-23, in front of a raucous home crowd.
La Salle (21-12) will get Foothill on Thursday night.
Senior middle blocker Ravin Rhodes was outstanding.
Rhodes had 7 kills and 7 blocks, including four blocks in the first six points of the second game.
It was Brianda Valdez, who won six consecutive points on her serve to start that second game, in which Rhodes took over.
“I love getting momentum going and getting four blocks in a row is amazing,” Rhodes said. “I don’t feel like I played my best, and I don’t feel like we played our best, but a win is a win.”
Jordan Bishop led Ayala with 14 kills, and Alana Washington added 15 digs.
“They (La Salle) are just scrappy. We had a lot of good swings and they were able to dig everything we threw at them,” Ayala coach Bernie Wendling said. “There is no doubt that they are a really good team, and we battled and never gave up.”
Sophia Anderson and Claire Forrest each had 6 kills apiece for the Del Rey League champs.
Along with her hot start in the second game while serving, Valdez finished with 3 aces and 11 assists.
Freshman Vanessa Ramirez was steady as always, and had 10 digs.
Ayala had a 5-point lead in the third game, but La Salle clutched up and finished off the Bulldogs.
“I think there were a lot of nerves, especially in the first game,” Tuitama said. “We had to work on our timing. After winning the first game, we had a good talk and controlled our side and not worrying so much about the other side (Ayala). We might have gotten a little comfortable in the third game, but we got the win.”
Both Rhodes and Tuitama said communication was the one thing they wanted to see the Lancers improve upon by the time they take the court on Thursday night.
La Salle won a coin toss and will host Foothill on Thursday night.
The Knights (16-10) defeated Brea Olinda in four games on Tuesday night.
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