Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA SID/3C2A SID
N3 FEATHER RIVER d. S4 IRVINE VALLEY, 25-12, 25-12, 25-20
(WALNUT) -- Feather River College head coach Sarah Ritchie had a mission for her All-American libero Katherine Gee on Saturday.
"I told her be more aggressive than she was in the quarterfinals, and I don't care if she cuts in front of people, get to every ball she can," Ritchie said.
Mission accomplished. Gee recorded 20 digs, some of the circus-like variety that dazzled onlookers court side and in the stands, and was part of a few long serving runs as Feather River advanced to its second straight 3C2A State Women's Volleyball Championship final with a semifinals sweep over Irvine Valley.
Feather River (28-5) now is one step away from winning back-to-back state titles and will face the winner of today's other semi between South #1 San Diego Mesa and South #3 Grossmont.
Besides the play of Gee, Kiyana Faupula pounded 10 kills (hit .389) with three blocks and Ashlee Kraft was solid on 11 kills (.290) with five digs.
Autumn Bennett crushed nine kills and setter Anna Bolich was an all-around machine with 32 assists, 10 digs, three aces and two blocks. Franny Martins contributed five kills and Emma Daugherty chipped in four kills and eight digs.
"Autumn Bennett and Ashlee Kraft stepped up today and really hit like they are capable. It feels so awesome to return to the finals again as this team has worked incredibly hard to get us this far."
Irvine Valley head coach Anna Unke said, "They served really tough and took us right out of system from the get go. Their pins played clean and their defense was solid. We started to play better later in the second set, but it was too late to turn it around."
On getting her team to state as a first-year head coach, she said, "I think being that I played so recently, I could give the players a perspective that they could relate to.
"They responded to the entire coaching staff and we fought hard every match to get past adversity to win in conference. It was a great year for our program."
In the opening set, FRC jumped ahead 4-0 behind two aces by Bolich.
Two blocks by the duo of Bolich and Kiyaan Faupula, a dump kill and another Bolich ace made it 15-8. Abby Cogburn served a 7-0 run, including a perfect lob just over the net for an ace, to double the score on the Lasers for a first set win.
In set #2, Gee set the tone with a dig while practically lying on her back, somehow saving the ball over the net and resulting in a subsequent IVC attack error.
A few plays later, Gee received a bullet drive in the chest by IVC sophomore middle blocker Natalia Brandlin, but the ball caroomed directly over the net and Feather River ultimately scored the point.
Gee then served a 9-0 run with two aces as the Golden Eagles again completed a 13-point set victory.
In the final set, both teams traded points after Irvine Valley opened an early 3-0 lead.
Two blocks involving Brandlin allowed the Lasers to stay ahead at 10-8. Feather River went on an 8-1 spurt capped by kill by Craft to take a 20-15 advantage.
After IVC sophomore opposite Ava Guenther picked up an ace and two kills to cut it to 21-19, Faupula blasted a kill and Daugherty put a final signature on the sweep with another kill.
The teams had not played vs. each other since the 2019 state championship final, won by Feather River in five sets at Southwestern College.
IVC finished tied for third at the state tourney.
Laser sophomore setter Mia Bertolone was named to the all-tournament team.
