Live Oak’s girls volleyball team nearly grabbed the first game
from St. Ignatius on Saturday, but was swept 3-0 in the Central
Coast Section Division III quarterfinals.
San Francisco – Live Oak’s girls volleyball team nearly grabbed the first game from St. Ignatius on Saturday, but was swept 3-0 in the Central Coast Section Division III quarterfinals.
The Acorns came from behind in the first game against the No. 3 seed to knot the score at 23 all. But the Wildcats were able to hold off Live Oak’s advance to win 25-23 and dominated the next two games 25-13, 25-8.
Coach Laura Coleman said her girls played well in game one and were disheartened after the loss. She added that despite the score in game three, the team played really well, but was beat by a better squad.
“It just kind of threw them for a loop,” Coleman said. “Usually when you lose, you are not in sync.
“If we would have won the first game, our heart and soul would have been there,” Coleman said
In game one, the Acorns fought with the Wildcats in long rallies where both teams were making plays to keep the ball alive.
“The girls were telling me that they couldn’t put any of their kills away, but I told them that you are doing the same thing to them,” Coleman said.
Coleman credited Jennifer Lima with having a huge game in the back court, keeping the Acorns alive many times on tough plays.
“Jenny Lima played phenomenally,” Coleman said. “She played the back row and I don’t think there was a ball that got by her.”
Coleman added that the entire team played some of the best volleyball they had all season.
“Talia (Reyes-Ortiz) hit better than she has been,” Coleman said. “Her passing was good and her serving was great.”
In the second game, after fighting so hard in the first, Coleman said the girls were just off. She said the girls struggled in passing and serving, but came together in the third game.
“We had some more long rallies in the third game,” Coleman said. “(St. Ignatius) is just a good team.”
Coleman said she was pleased overall with the performance against the Wildcats and said the girls had a fantastic season and that losing in the playoffs is something that only one team in the entire state doesn’t have to suffer.
“Anytime you make the playoffs I would say it was a successful season,” Coleman said. “No one wants to end the season on a loss. But I would say it was a successful season. We got out of the first round (of the playoffs), which is something we haven’t done in a while.”
