Marymount Volleyball Falls in Five

Two points away from its first Division I state championship, the girls volleyball team was about to complete an epic comeback against Palo Alto in the finals Saturday at Concordia University.

However, the Northern California Regional champion Vikings staged a big comeback of their own to prevail, 25-17, 25-23, 22-25, 20-25, 17-15, in a thriller that was eerily similar to their triumph in last season's state final when they came from match point down to upset Long Beach Poly by an identical score in the fifth set at San Jose State University.

"We weren't really prepared the first two games but after that we started playing how we usually play," said Marymount setter and co-captain Lauren Greskovics-Fuller, who finished with 49 assists and 11 digs and made the All-State Team. "They had tall middles but we're used to that and as the setter I have to get off the other block. They wanted it a lot and we were too comfortable with that big lead. I'm just really proud we got our bearings in the third, fourth and fifth [sets]."  

Palo Alto asserted itself at the outset, winning the first six points before Manon Greskovics-Fuller got Marymount on the scoreboard with a right-side spike. The Vikings led by as many as eight points and close out the first set on their first opportunity.

Marymount took the early lead in the second set, 16-12, but Lanti Moye-McLaren hit wide to give Palo Alto a 19-18 lead. Moye-McLaren's crosscourt kill staved off a set point before Vikings outside hitter Maddie Kuppe gave her team a two-set lead with a kill. 

"There was more pressure having to come back from two games down," said Sailors' senior libero Christine Irvin, who finished with a team-high 18 digs. "They're techniques are a lot different than most of the teams we play and we had to be on our toes. It hasn't hit me yet that this was my last [high school] match but it was a great season and I'm really proud of everything we did."

After Palo Alto opened a 7-3 lead in the third set, the Sailors clawed back to take a 12-11 lead and the teams traded points to 22-22, when Greskovics-Fuller's kill gave Marymount the lead for good. The Vikings were whistled for double contact, then Ashlie Williams' stuff block got the Southern California Regional champions back into the match.

The fourth set was also close throughout, but Lauren Greskovic-Fuller's alert dump to the open floor gave Marymount a 22-18 lead. Williams' block on Kuppe moved the Sailors to set point and Moye-McLaren's left-side attack leveled the contest at two sets apiece.

"We always fight back," said Moye-McLaren, who fought through sickness and a painful rib injury to record 10 kills, four aces and 11 digs. "I'm so exhausted. All of us are, just getting to this point, and it got to us the first two games, but we showed a lot of fire to come back and we had it at the end."

Renee Meyer-Whalley's fifth ace gave the Sailors a quick 3-0 lead in the final set and back-to-back kills by Moye-McLaren and Manon Greskovics-Fuller stretched the lead to 11-7 and the Sailors took a seemingly commanding 13-7 lead on a lift. However, the defending champions showed their mettle by rallying to take a 14-13 lead on back-to-back kills by middle blocker Melanie Wade. 

"We know their players because we play them in club," added Moye-McLaren, who won the match's Sportsmanship Award. "We just couldn't get a block on [Wade] tonight. When I look back I'm going to remember we were up 13-7 and didn't get those two points and they got eight. That should've been ours, we were the better team but we shouldn't have let them make it close." 

Manon Greskovics-Fuller, who led the Sailors with 17 kills and joined her sister on the All-State team, answered with a kill before Carly Wagenbach served into the net to give the Vikings their second championship point. Once again, the Sailors stayed alive when Moye-McLaren's left-side attack was blocked out of bounds. Wade's kill on the next point put Palo Alto on the verge of a repeat and this time freshman Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani hit wide, setting off a wild celebration by the Vikings.

Wade was named Most Valuable Player after pounding 27 kills and adding 11 digs, one solo block and four block assists. Joining her on the All-State squad were teammates Caroline Martin (10 kills, 20 digs) and Kuppe (15 kills, 17 digs).

For the second year in a row, Northern California schools won four of the five state final matches.

Saturday's defeat was Marymount's first in seven state finals appearances. Klein has navigated the Sailors to five Division IV titles since taking over the program in 1998. Marymount captured the Division III championship under Coach Alvin Lamarre in 1991, defeating Livermore Granada 15-1, 8-15, 12-15, 15-3, 15-10 under the sideout scoring format.  

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Saturday at Concordia University, Irvine

Division I: Palo Alto d. Los Angeles Marymount, 25-17, 25-23, 22-25, 20-25, 17-15

Division II: San Jose Presentation d. Carlsbad La Costa Canyon, 20-25, 20-25, 26-24, 25-15, 15-9

Division III: San Diego Cathedral Catholic d. Albany, 25-15, 23-25, 21-25, 31-29, 16-14

Division IV: El Dorado Union Mine d. La Jolla Country Day, 25-18, 29-27, 19-25, 25-18

Division V: Ross Branson d. Vista Tri-City Christian, 25-12, 25-15, 25-21