Courtesy of Robert Lewis
2014 STATE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: A SEQUEL OF 2013 TOURNAMENT
The Hunger Games movies and many other movie franchises thrive off the sequel or the anticipation for viewers of what happens next. The 2014 California Community College Athletic Association State Women's Volleyball Championship tournament has shaped up to be just that—a sequel to the 2013 tourney.
The featured players are back with last year's top three finishers returning and all returning as undefeated teams. Defending state champion Cabrillo, third-place Irvine Valley, and state runner-up Grossmont return. So do the individuals in Cabrillo's trio of '13 tourney MVP Kelsey Shaver and fellow all‐tournament selections Madison Borch and Alex Flores along with Irvine Valley's all-tourney duo of Annie Mitchem and Hailey Jones.
Shaver, an outside hitter, and Mitchem, a middle blocker, were AVCA All-Americans this year and considered the regular-season MVPs of each region.
The drama began last December with Cabrillo capturing the first-ever state title by a North team in the 37-year history of the tournament. Now, South #1 seed Irvine Valley and South #2 Grossmont want to bring the title back to SoCal.
Meanwhile, the wild card in the mix is North No. 2 Feather River, undefeated v. everyone but Cabrillo at 25-2. The Golden Eagles were the only team to extend Cabrillo to five sets in a match this year at the Delta Classic. Of course, Cabrillo would love nothing better than to repeat as state champion and do so as the host college of the '14 championship.
This is the first time in 16 years and first in the rally-scoring era that three or more teams have entered the tourney undefeated. The 38th women's volleyball championship tournament begins Saturday, Dec. 6 and continues with the finals on Sunday, Dec. 7 at Cabrillo College in Aptos (Santa Cruz County).
Here capsules on the four participants:
CABRILLO (30-0), NORTH #1 SEED
Final Regular Season State Ranking: No. 1
Mascot: Seahawks
Coast Conference, North Division Champions
Head Coach: Gabby Houston-Neville
Top Players: AVCA All-American Kelsey Shaver (OH),
All-Region Madison Borch (MB), All-Region Tyler Gasologa (SET)
Road To Cabrillo: swept #16 Los Medanos, #9 Sierra;
beat #5 Foothill in 4
2014 Sweeps: 26
4-Set Matches: 3
5-Set Matches: 1
Current Winning Streak: 61 matches
Last Loss: v. Feather River (3-0), 2nd Round Regionals, Nov. 25, 2012
Appearances at State Tournament: 9th this year
Highest State Finish: 2013 CCCAA State Champion
FEATHER RIVER (25-2), NORTH #2 SEED
Final Regular Season State Ranking: No. 4
Mascot: Golden Eagles
Golden Valley Conference Champions
Head Coach: Sarah Ritchie
Top Players: AVCA All-American Nina Holmes (LIB),
All-Region Marinda Thomas (OH), All-GVC Stephanie Ovitz (MB)
Road To Cabrillo: swept #15 Yuba, #7 Butte, #3 American River
2014 Sweeps: 17
3-Set Matches: 18 (17-1)
4-Set Matches: 7 (7-0)
5-Set Matches: 2 (1-1)
Current Winning Streak: 9 matches
Last Loss: v. Cabrillo (swept) at Santa Rosa Classic, Oct. 25, 2014
Appearances at State Tournament: 2nd this year
Highest State Finish: 2008, 7th Place, CCCAA State Tournament
IRVINE VALLEY (24-0), SOUTH #1 SEED
Final Regular Season State Ranking: No. 2
Mascot: Lasers
Orange Empire Conference Champions
Head Coach: Tom Pestolesi
Top Players: AVCA All-American, 2-Year Colleges National Player of the
Year Annie Mitchem (MB), All-Region Marissa Doran (OH),
All-OEC Hailey Jones (SET)
Road To Cabrillo: swept #16 San Diego Mesa, #9 Canyons;
beat #4 El Camino in 4
2014 Sweeps: 20
4-Set Matches: 3
5-Set Matches: 1
Current Winning Streak: 24 matches
Last Loss: v. Grossmont (swept), Semifinals, State Championship, Dec. 8, 2013
Appearances at State Tournament: 7th this year
Highest State Finish: 2003, 2nd Place, COA State Tournament
GROSSMONT (28-0), SOUTH #2 SEED
Final Regular Season State Ranking: No. 3
Mascot: Griffins
Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Champions Head Coach: Jamie Ivers
Top Players: AVCA All-American Lexi Reddick (OH),
All-Region Gillian Newman (MH), All-PCAC Brooke Callahan (MH)
Road To Cabrillo: swept #15 Ventura, swept #10 Orange Coast,
beat #3 Cypress in 5
2014 Sweeps: 23
4-Set Matches: 2
5-Set Matches: 3
Current Winning Streak: 28 matches
Last Loss: v. Cabrillo (4 sets), Finals, State Championship, Dec. 8, 2013
Appearances at State Tournament: 7th this year
Highest State Finish: 1987, 1989 State Champions
14—STATE WVB PREVIEW
Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA/CCCAA State WVB SID,
rmlewis@pasadena.edu
