4/20/2007

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The Santa Barbara Volleyball Club's 14-1s won the Southern California Junior Olympic Qualifier in the 14-OPEN division to receive a bid into the Junior Olympics 14s Open division in Minnesota in July.

In pool play last Friday, the 14-1 team went 3-0 in matches without dropping a game. On Saturday, the team went 2-1 and entered Sunday's first playoff rounds in a three-way tie with Mavericks and San Gabriel, having to play an extra playoff match to beat San Gabriel to secure the first seed of the final playoff round, in which the team upset Encinitas 14-Katie in a close three-game match to win the tournament.

In July's Junior Olympics the team will compete against the top 28 teams in the country.

Team players are Paige Craine, Aly Squires, Katy Villanueva, Eve Ettinger, Carly Wopat, Sam Wopat, Cheyenne Godinez, Lauren Capritto, Emma Campbell and Megan Smith, and they "all played great," said coach Liz Towne-Gilbert.

"It was a great win for the Santa Barbara Volleyball Club and very rewarding for all of the coaches who have contributed to the success of this group of girls," Towne-Gilbert said.

The 13-1 team, coached by Ed Gover, placed third in the 13's Club Division, going 2-1 in Friday's pool play and 3-0 on Saturday. In Sunday's playoffs, the team beat Beach Cities 13-Gold but lost to Vision 13Gold in the semis. The team hopes for a region bid to the Junior Olympics in the 13s division.