Eagles soar past Tigers
IMPERIAL — On a (relatively) temperate Tuesday evening, with fans crowding into their cozy gymnasium, the Imperial High volleyball team attempted to hand the gals out of Southwest High their first defeat of the Imperial Valley League season.
Fortunately for the Eagles, the Tigers came up tame, going down onetwo-three, with game scores of 25-13, 25-19, 25-23.
Early on, it looked as though it was going to be a cakewalk for Southwest. They reeled off 10 straight points to start game number one, and generally appeared to outclass the Tigers in every way.
Imperial was exhibiting some very sloppy play, occasionally seeming to take inspiration from 5-year-old soccer players in the way they would converge on the ball en masse.
The Tigers have some strong players. Their front line can be menacing on the block, especially when certified “very tall persons” Abby Ormand and Livier Sanchez are near the net. Cady Davis can really smack it.
But the whole squad seemed discombobulated in the face of the Eagles crisp sets and clockwork rotations, not showing much life until Southwest had put 20 points on the board.
The Tigers found a burst of energy to start the second game, however, rattling off five straight of their own, using their height to change the geometry on a lot of Eagles’ shots.
After racing out to such a big lead in the first game, the Eagles seemed to have throttled back a bit, and Imperial’s newfound aggression appeared to catch them off guard.
Down 11-4 and looking uncharacteristically indecisive, Southwest took a timeout.
It seemed to steady them, and they soon were back in it.
Injecting some of their trademark war cries into the mix after mostly dispensing with them in the runaway first, they found some holes in the Tiger defense and reclaimed the lead.
Down 17-13, it was the home team’s turn to call a timeout.
The Tigers’ timeout did not appear to have the same restorative effect. Though their form was miles ahead of their earlier efforts, it wasn’t enough to snake a set from the re-engaged Eagles.
The third game started in much the same way as the second. The Tigers, looking to give their fans something to cheer about, roared out to an 11-5 lead.
So Southwest took another timeout.
Except this time the Tigers maintained their momentum.
11-5 became 14-5, which became 18-9. At this point a fourth set appeared to be, if not a foregone conclusion, then at least something one wouldn’t feel too worried about putting money on.
The Tigers were consistently on the attack, with Davis in particular being in excellent form, the team’s setters Jayce Pendley and Julianne Camalich, getting her the ball in space for maximum impact.
But Southwest refused to say die. Down 21-14, they began a ferocious rally, grinding out point after point as their fans (outnumbered three to one in the stands, but by no means outlung-ed) got rowdier and rowdier.
Eagle outside hitter Andrea Aguilar was especially effective in this run, picking up several kills through a combination of excellent placement and sheer power.
At 23-23, it was clear the worm had turned. The Tigers had watched a commanding game lead slip away, and there simply wasn’t enough fight left in them to keep Southwest from cashing in on their last two chips.
25-23 called it a night and the two teams trooped off the floor, one disconsolate, one relieved, both likely feeling that they had left certain depths unplumbed.
Southwest, at 5-0, remains undefeated in the IVL and is 13-2 overall.
For the Tigers, their second consecutive IVL loss evens them out at 2-2 (9-6 overall).
After the game Eagles’ coach Lisa Hinshaw said she “feels great” about staying undefeated and that she was pleased with her team’s ability to keep their cool during Imperial’s surge.
“Close games like this help us grow,” she said. “[We’re] moving the ball around and playing smart” in the face of adversity. The Eagles next test will be at the Nike Tournament of Champions, being held in Phoenix this weekend.
Imperial will be traveling to Brawley on Thursday to face the Wildcats.
Statistical leaders for the game:
• Assists — Erika Arellano (Southwest, Jr.) 32; Jayce Pendley (Imperial, Sr.) 12
• Kills — Andrea Aguilar (Southwest, Jr.) 12; Cady Davis (Imperial, Sr.) 8
• Digs — Sadriena Rodriguez (Southwest, Sr.) 20; Ale de la Trinidad (Imperial, So.) 13