BY STEPHEN LYNCH
The situation looked bleak for the North High volleyball team at the start of the fourth set of its Southeast Yosemite League match against Highland on Thursday night.
Down two games to one and missing one of their key players to injury, it appeared the visiting Stars were on the ropes, trying hang on for dear life.
But as it turned out, no amount of adversity was going stop North from claiming a much-desired victory over their league rival.
An unyielding Stars squad rallied from the unfavorable position they were in and defeated the Scots in five games (17-25, 27-25, 24-26, 25-21, 15-5).
North libero Ayleen Rodriguez injured her thumb during the third set and did not play the rest of the match.
“I’m just super proud of them,” North coach Heather Stinson said. “They really showed how hard they can fight… “The difference was their resilience and their heart. When one player went down the rest stepped up and played.”
The Stars, led by middle blockers Novalee Major and Cassie Varley, and outside hitter Abby Johnson dominated most of the action at the net.
Major had a match-high 19 kills and five blocks. Johnson tallied 13 kills and Varley added nine kills and two blocks for North, which snapped a four-match losing streak against Highland.
“All three of them are just super aggressive at the net,” Stinson said. “They take every opportunity that they can. Abby has come super far. She stays aggressive. She’s able to bounce back. And both middle blockers are just super intense. They are really working hard and competing each other, chasing each other’s block records. That keeps the competition alive.”
Despite losing the first set to go down 1-0 and then dropping a hard-fought third set to fall behind 2-1, North never lost its composure or tenacity.
Two kills and a block by Major helped the Stars jump out to a 12-5 lead in Game 4. However, the Scots, propelled by three straight Jazmyn Kizziar kills answered with a 13-6 run to tie things, 18-18.
Later, deadlocked 21-21, a Varley kill followed by a kill and block by Major propelled North to the brink of a Game 4 victory, before a spike into the net by Kizziar clinched it for the Stars.
North paced by two Johnson kills completely dominated the fifth set.
“I’m just so proud of my team, because we lost a player because she got injured” Johnson said. “She was one of our key players. I’m proud of my team for stepping up and playing like she wasn’t even gone. I’m so proud of them. I can’t explain in words how proud I am of them.”
Things didn’t look so good for North following a first set in which the Scots rallied from early five-point deficit to win comfortably. To make matters worse Johnson hurt her shoulder during the first set.
Feeling pain every time she went to spike the ball, the talented 5-foot-8 junior, struggled during the early part of the second set. She spiked the ball out of bounds twice in a row helping Highland take a 15-13 lead.
Highland stretched its advantage to 20-16 before back-to-back aces by Varley drew the Stars even, 21-21.
Later, a hard kill by senior captain Nayeli Chavolla-Ayala, put Highland (11-14, 2-4 SEYL) up 24-23. One point away from falling behind two games to zero Major delivered a clutch kill to re-tie things.
Moments later after the Scots’ Maritza Gonzalez served the ball out of bounds, Brittney Coker served an ace to give North the Game 2 victory.
The third set was just as tight. However, Highland made more plays down the stretch and pulled out the win, setting up the dramatic fourth set.
“Our team, we’re very, very competitive,” Johnson said. “We take everything super seriously. Whenever the time comes, we really step up our game. And this game was one of those where we really had step it up. I’m proud they did that.”
Johnson hit the ball extremely well during the final two all-important games for North.
“I was taking it easy at first (because of my sore shoulder), but then my team was like, ‘Hey c’mon Abby you got to go. We got to win this thing,” Johnson said. So, I stopped babying it. I started swinging like I always do at practice and it just went as I planned.”
Things certainly didn’t go as planned for the Scots, who beat the Stars in five games during the first round of SEYL play.
“Tonight, was a very hard-fought game,” Highland coach Melani Gibson said. “To be honest it’s just a matter of who is going to lead. Leadership is important. That’s what we are looking for on our team. North did a great job. They took over and they were tough to beat.”
Despite the loss, Kizziar played an outstanding all-around match. The 6-foor junior led Highland in kills (14), blocks (4), and digs (37).
Chavolla-Ayala had 13 kills and Isabella Sandoval registered 37 assists for the Scots.
North setter Maegan McCord had 22 assists.
Stinson was extremely pleased with the effort of all her players.
“It took absolutely everything for them just to get this point,” Stinson said. “This win is going to mean everything. Their goal was to take down Highland and they did that tonight.”
