[New post] Pioneer High School girls volleyball team wins 15th match in a row bolstered by 7 straight sweeps
Shaun Holkko posted: "The Pioneer High School girls varsity volleyball team extended their winning streak to 15 on Monday night with a road win in Golden Empire League play at Mira Loma in Sacramento. Whether the Patriots (19-3, 4-0 GEL) are on the road, at home or at a neu" Daily Democrat
The Pioneer High School girls varsity volleyball team extended their winning streak to 15 on Monday night with a road win in Golden Empire League play at Mira Loma in Sacramento.
Whether the Patriots (19-3, 4-0 GEL) are on the road, at home or at a neutral site, it hasn't seemed to matter lately. During the streak, Pioneer has swept 12-of-15 opponents and seven of them over three sets.
"I feel like it wasn't very consistent and we really didn't play our best but we fought through and we won so it's good to keep our streak going," said senior opposite hitter Marissa Christian. "Even though a team is giving their best, we're not playing our best and we're going down to their level. I think that we need to be consistent to be able to play our best and win."
The Patriots faced another test Monday with a road match against the Matadors (7-8, 2-3). Mira Loma scored the game's first point following a service fault by Pioneer. The Matadors added two more points to take an early 3-0 lead.
The advantage was short-lived as the Patriots netted the next three consecutive points to tie the frame. The GEL foes split the next four points to remain tied until Mira Loma scored another three straight points to lead 8-5.
Pioneer immediately responded again with three points in a row. The Matadors earned a hat trick by netting three consecutive points for the third time to take an 11-8 advantage and Patriots coach Annie Carter called a timeout.
The break in action was effective as Pioneer scored 6-of-8 points to take a 14-13 lead. Mira Loma then netted 5-of-7 points to earn an 18-16 advantage.
With their backs against the ropes, facing a potential set loss for the first time since the Dixon Classic on Sept. 2, the Patriots took control. Pioneer scored five points in a row and forced the Matadors to call for a timeout.
Following two points by Mira Loma, the Patriots scored three points in a row and led 24-20. Pioneer prevailed in a close first frame by a score of 25-21.
"I think it definitely keeps the team on their toes. I feel like they need to work on pushing back on those teams that are giving them their best night," Carter explained. "The teams are just sending the ball back and then we're making mistakes. I feel like if we were to minimize our errors, the games wouldn't be as close as they are.
"It's really fun to see everyone's best match and hopefully we can keep the streak going but we'll see. We have a pretty tough game coming up next Monday."
Pioneer senior middle hitter Olivia Gill leaps for a kill attempt during a 3-0 win at Mira Loma on Monday, Sept. 18 in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Pioneer senior outside hitter Cayley Brown prepares to dig the ball during a 3-0 win at Mira Loma on Monday, Sept. 18 in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Pioneer coach Annie Carter speaks to her team during a timeout of a 3-0 win at Mira Loma on Monday, Sept. 18 in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Pioneer freshman libero Layla Medalle delivers the ball during a 3-0 win at Mira Loma on Monday, Sept. 18 in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
Pioneer seniors, outside hitter Cayley Brown (left) and middle hitter Olivia Gill, block a spike during a 3-0 win at Mira Loma on Monday, Sept. 18 in Sacramento. (Shaun Holkko/Daily Democrat)
The Patriots earned the first point of the second set and the Matadors responded by netting four straight. Mira Loma took 4-of-6 points to extend its lead to 8-3. Pioneer answered with five consecutive points to tie the match.
The GEL rivals shared the next 10 points for a 13-13 draw. The Patriots then began to dominate, scoring four consecutive points. The Matadors netted one point and Pioneer scored another three in a row, twice, to take a 23-15 advantage. The Patriots went on to win the second frame 25-19.
Pioneer netted the first point of the third set with a serving ace. After the two teams split the next two points, Mira Loma scored five straight to lead 6-2. The Patriots immediately responded with four consecutive points to tie the match, spearheaded by a killer spike by senior outside hitter Cayley Brown to earn Pioneer's third point in a row.
The Patriots ultimately took an 8-7 advantage, netting 6-of-7 total points, leading to a Matadors timeout. The intermission was well spent as Mira Loma scored four points in a row. However, that was the last run of the evening for the Matadors.
Pioneer had two streaks of three points in a row, followed by four in a row to earn a 19-13 lead and force a Mira Loma timeout. The Patriots emphatically earned their 19th point on a sensational spike by senior middle hitter Olivia Gill, leading to her teammates joyously congratulating her after netting the point.
The final timeout was meaningless in the end as Pioneer scored another five straight out of the break to total nine consecutive points and 16-of-18. The Patriots won the final frame 25-13 to sweep their seventh match in a row.
"I think it was a little rough but we pulled together in the end," Brown said. "I feel like since we're on the winning streak, everyone is playing their hardest game against us. It really makes us work and have to fight."
Brown nearly matched the Matadors (17) in total kills with a game-high 16. She tallied another game-high with six serving aces.
"I think Cayley (played well) because she really pulls through when we're in tight situations with her serving and she always aces them," Christian explained.
Gill out-blocked the entire Mira Loma team (two) with a game-high of three.
"There were a couple of really good blocks by Olivia Gill that kind of swung the momentum our direction there at the end," Carter recalled. "I think she had a good night."
Sophomore outside hitter Ally Nunez led the way in digs with 14. Sophomore setter Marisa Bryson more than doubled the Matadors (eight) in assists with a game-high 18.
Pioneer was without two players on Monday, senior middle hitter Annika Miller and junior defensive specialist Sofia Hernandez, due to illness according to Carter.
"That sick train is rolling through and it really messes with the team chemistry," Carter explained. "They battled through it and ended up with a win tonight which is good. It's a Monday game so it's their first touches of the week and it just wasn't very consistent. Hopefully we can hit the gym tomorrow and iron out some of those things with some players missing and come back with a better game on Wednesday."
Christian stepped up in Miller's place to play middle hitter and performed well, Carter said.
"I think she did a great job, she's a really good block," Carter proclaimed. "The thing about Marissa is she gets in there, she hustles and always does her best no matter what spot she's in. Even if she's not super comfortable with the middle, she's going to give you 110% no matter what spot she's in.
"I love how she steps up when I need her to in a different spot. Especially as a senior, she steps up and plays really well."
The Patriots return home Wednesday night for three consecutive GEL matches that start at 6:30 p.m., beginning with Casa Roble (1-5, 0-3).
"I'm pretty excited, it's a home game and those are the best games to play," Brown foreshadowed. "I think it will be good."
Pioneer will host crosstown rival Woodland (10-8, 4-0) on Monday night. The Wolves are on their own winning streak with four straight. Woodland's last loss came against the Patriots on Sept. 2 in Dixon and the Wolves were the most recent team to take a set from Pioneer.
"It's going to be really loud," Carter foreshadowed. "Usually both sides have large student sections which can contribute to the already high-emotion match. The student section for us will pump us up but also the mental game of them having a student section and it being loud, it's usually a rollercoaster night."
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