By Bobby Wymbs
Staff Writer
Girls volleyball played Long Beach Poly on Nov. 12 at home in the first round game of CIF playoffs, winning in four sets.
In the first set, Costa started off very slow and Poly took advantage, taking an 8-6 lead over the Mustangs. It was all downhill for Costa from then on, Poly was always one step ahead of the Mustangs. That led to a late lead of 20-13 and after a couple of quick kills, the Jackrabbits took the first set 25-18.
“We just needed to bring more energy in the first game,” senior libero Brooke Feld said. “I could feel the nerves on the court and we didn’t play well. We stepped up right away and weren’t afraid to go all out in the second set.”
The second set was a whole different story and Costa came out firing and took a quick, 6-4 lead. Soon after that with the help of junior outside hitter Skylar Caputo, who had 20 kills throughout the game, Costa took a 15-8 lead. The rest of the set the Jackrabbits and the Mustangs played great volleyball and traded point for point and Costa went on to win the second set 25-18.
“After the second set we knew we could win in four sets, but it wasn’t gonna be easy,” sophomore defensive specialist Emma Smith said.
The third set started out exactly how the second set ended. The score was tied, 5-5, at the very beginning of the set, soon after that Costa took demand and with the help of junior outside hitter Phina Leilua, who assisted in the Mustangs’ win with 7 kills, Costa took a 14-9 lead over Poly. Similar to the end of the second set, Costa and Poly neither could find momentum and switched point for point. The score ended up being 25-19 in favor of the Mustangs, who took the win in the third set.
“I felt really confident going into the fourth and final set because the team was doing so well and had so much energy,” said junior outside hitter Katrina Kernochan. “Everyone that came and supported really helped energize us.”
The fourth and final set was the closest of all. Within the first couple of points the score was tied, 5-5. The set was close, but Costa was gaining momentum. With the help of senior setter Sammy Furlan, who had 54 assists during the game, the Mustangs took a lead of 15-14 and then soon with a couple of kills, increased their lead to 21-18. Costa went on, and with the winning kill, made the score, 25-22, advancing to the second round of the CIf playoffs.
“I think we really stepped up,” said senior outside hitter Lan Nguyen. “Skylar played amazing, our passing improved, and we were able to put the ball away more easily. We were able to come together and play as a team.”
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