In a rematch of the 2021 first round of the Northern Section CIF Division IV playoffs, the No. 4 seeded Yellowjackets avenged last year’s loss by topping the No. 5 Bears 25-22, 19-25, 25-20, 25-16 to advance to the semifinals for the first time since the mid-1990s.
Last Tuesday’s match was everything the standing room only crowd inside the Williams gymnasium could have hoped for as it was marked by extended rallies, athletic plays, and the emotion of a long-standing rivalry, but, in the end, the experience and power of the Yellowjackets was too much for the scrappy Bears.
While, initially, it seemed it would be an easy go of it for Williams, as the squad jumped out to a 5-0 advantage, the Bears had other ideas and battled back to tie and keep the score close throughout the opening set.
However, errors down the stretch were the Bear’s undoing, as the Yellowjackets capitalized and ended the first set with a Mia Rivera kill.
Undeterred, Pierce came back in the second, overcoming a six point deficit behind timely kills from Maggie Reyna and Hailey Regnani, along with strong serving from Macey Myers, who closed out the set with an ace.
Yet, the setback seemed to foster a greater sense of urgency in the ‘Jackets, who, despite a game effort from the Bears, upped their efficiency and captured the final two sets.
According to Williams head coach Darren Robinson, it was the setback that marked the turning point in the match.
“After the loss in the second set, I could feel the change in them,” said Robinson. “The third set was the key. They really responded well.”
Strong all-around play has been characteristic of the ‘Jackets this season and the match against Pierce was no exception, as Rivera tallied 16 kills and 20 digs, Ashley Garcia had 11 kills and 25 digs, while Trinity Tungsmita handed out 26 assists, made 17 digs, and added eight kills for good measure.
Putting up big numbers in the back row was Linda Rivera with 15 digs and Brianna Jaime, who finished with 11.
For Pierce, the match came down to an issue that has plagued them all season long, as Coach Lisa Burnum explained.
“The tip has been our weakness again this year,” Burnum said. “We worked on it, but it wasn’t in the cards. That being said, I’m proud of the way they played tonight.”
Leading the Bear attack was Regnani with nine kills, while Cindy Corona pitched in with five.
Still, it was the Pierce back row that deserves special commendation for its effort after being bombarded by the ‘Jacket hitters.
Although no defensive statistics were kept, Myers made no less than 20 digs, turning in a warrior-like performance, equal to that of some of her extraordinary predecessors in the libero position.
Likewise, senior Tatum Mulqueeney, in her final appearance for Pierce, held her own in the back row, fending off the Yellowjacket assault.
While the Bears (11-20) saw their season come to an end, Williams (19-7) made the trip to Redding on Tuesday to face No. 1 U-Prep, the defending state and NSCIF Division IV champions, in a semifinal match. ■
