Vanilla Protein Powder

By Michael Ashcraft --

Somewhere in the memory banks of Lighthouse computers, there's a mocu-umentary video of then Principal Josh Young applying sunscreen to his face.

"Are you going out?" a kid asks him.

"No, I'm just going to my car," he replies.

Josh Young is just about as pale and blond as his sophomore daughter, Lucy Young, a star on the volleyball team. They call her Vanilla Protein Powder.

"She stands out," admits mother and coach, Jessica Young.

On Thursday, her shock blond hair wasn't the only striking feature. The Saints shockingly powerful strikes brought Lighthouse Christian Academy a coasting win against Glendale Adventist in three: 25-12, 25-18, 25-17.

Aside from the height differential, Lighthouse was dominant on serves and kills.

While Lucy was scooping up balls and making sniper-shot hits, setters Shayla Papik and Eden Garcia were squaring up Jillian Jenkins for a record-setting 24 kills.

We're not close to Halloween, but Jillian was scaring the living daylights out of Glendale Adventist. She rained down a fusillade. Jill drove them back with hard balls that hit the line. Then she would touch in gently a soft ball that sunk to the floor before they could respond. She was hitting the line and tipping in balls.

If you were Glendale, you got nervous every time Jumping Jill leapt for a set. They might be having nightmares tonight.

The Glendale team are the Cougars. Jill got out her hunting rifle.

"Jill played a flawless game. Karine (Keyser) did amazing. She came through on defense, where she's not in the front row. She was picking up balls," Coach Jessica said. "Bethania (Wonagseged) got some touches on the ball and improved. Lilah (Hosni) went in and got an ace.

"They all showed some of their best skills," Jessica added. "They rise to any challenge and play better."

Lucy bled. "I'm happy I got to hit," she says. "I practiced a lot yesterday. I bit my lip."

"She didn't cry," Jessica said. "She went back to playing. She was definitely a force."

Related content: the Little Assassin, 'Lightning' win in football, Justice League with the pigskin