Wildcats go down fighting
BRAWLEY — The three-time Imperial Valley League volleyball champions from Brawley Union High School entered the CIF-San Diego Section Div. II playoffs against Grossmont here on Wednesday night.
The No. 10 Wildcats played host to the No. 7 Foothillers in what would play out to be a five-set thriller that ultimately favored the visitors, 22-25, 25-17, 25-14, 12-25 and 17-15.
“Coming into this type of game all you can really ask and hope for is for the girls to leave it all on the court, and they did that,” said Wildcat Head Coach Phil Finnell.
The Wildcats came out swinging in the first set, with senior libero Jennah Rodriguez willing her team to a 6-1 opening run with her strength from behind the service line.
While the Wildcats appeared out of sync in the second and third matches, the team took game four in near-perfect fashion with solid serving, timely hitting and tough defense.
In addition to Rodriguez, Mikalyn Emanuelli’s eye for the court from behind the service line helped Brawley defeat Grossmont 25-12 in the fourth set, forcing a final game five that was decided with extra points.
The final set was neckand-neck from the get-go and could have easily gone either way.
Overall, Finnell credited Brawley’s defense as a whole for lifting the Wildcats to another league title this season and also keeping the Grossmont hitters on their toes the entire night.
“Our defense is really what got us here,” he said.
In addition to his team’s defense, Finnell said the girls’ grit, determination and genuine love for volleyball was what he’d remember most about this group of athletes.
The squad battled through injuries and loss of starters even before the season started, yet still worked to finish the year with an overall record of 19-12 and an IVL record of 11-1.
The Wildcats graduate a solid senior class, losing six players including Rodriguez, Jalyn Ayala, Emily Godsey, Tsiona Overton, Savannah Contreras and Faith Felix.
In their final outing, Rodriguez tallied 41 digs and nine aces, while Godsey tallied 18 kills followed by Lilly Martinez’s 11, while Ayala closed with 56 assists.