Norco still unbeaten after win vs. Ontario Christian

SAN BERNARDINO >> The Norco girls volleyball program rarely has the size advantage during the fall indoor season.

The Cougars often rely on all-around skills to win, so it’s not surprising to see the program having success in the sand.

Norco swept three matches and won another match in three sets en route to a 4-1 victory over Ontario Christian in an Ambassador League girls beach volleyball showdown at the Pearce Sports Complex sand courts Tuesday afternoon.

The Cougars improved their record to 5-0 overall and in league play and have dropped only two points on the season.

“We are suited for the beach game,” Norco coach Jake Celestine said. “We never walk into a gym and are bigger than other teams ... ever. In beach, it’s all about which team has the best all-around players, not who is bigger or has the most players who are skilled at specific positions ... We have the players with those skills to be successful in beach.”

Girls beach volleyball was added to the list of official CIF Southern Section sports last year. Norco went 4-5 during its inaugural season and finished second to Ontario Christian in the Ambassador League standings.

Celestine, who also coaches the girls indoor team, has seen more of his players willing to commit themselves to the beach game this year.

“They’re discovering something new and having some success,” Celestine said. “Now, it’s all about getting more reps.”

Norco’s No. 2 team of Cassidy Belme and Ryley Rocheleau erased an early deficit in the opening set to post a 21-15, 21-15 victory over Ontario Christian’s Amelia Don and Marlee Arrington. Rocheleau is 5-foot-7, while Belme is 5-4.

“We are undersized and don’t have a lot of power on offense,” Rocheleau said. “We rely on placement on offense and being able to read other teams on defense. Once we spot some weaknesses, we just try to use it to our advantage.”

Norco also got wins from the No. 3 team of sisters Khloe and Kylie Ishii (2112, 21-13), the No. 4 team of Jayden Franchere and Savannah Smith (21-12, 21-10) and the No. 5 team of Peyton Humphries and Kayla Sobczyk (21-19, 13-21, 15-11).

Ontario Christian (3-3, 2-2 in league) avoided being swept when Sabri Johnson and Dakota Zieman rallied for a 17-21, 21-10, 15-8 victory in the No. 1 match against Norco’s Madison Trondle and Elle Scranton. Johnson finished with 14 kills and seven aces, and Zieman recorded 13 kills for the Knights. Johnson had four kills and two aces during a 6-0 closing run in the decisive set.

Norco begins the second round of league play this afternoon against Arrowhead Christian.

“We can’t let our guard down,” Celestine said. “We’ve seen happen it before (in indoor season) where a team loses matches in the first round and comes back to win the rematch. We’ve done it, and it’s been down to us. We just need to stay focused and keep playing the way we’re capable of playing.”