Wildcats rally for sweep over Tigers
B RAWLEY — Behind strong serving and timely hitting the Brawley Union High volleyball team rallied to defeat Imperial High in three sets here on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats opened up each of the three games with deep runs en route to 25-16, 26-24 and 25-13 wins.
In the opening game the Wildcats found themselves up 6-2 behind sophomore Jalyn Ayala’s serving. Ayala finished the game with three aces and this year serves as the team’s setter replacing last year’s AllIVL first team selectee Desirae Montes, who graduated.
“I’ve been coaching Jalyn since she was about 10 years old and she sees the game unfold before it unfolds, which is what a setter needs to do,” said Brawley head coach Phil Finnell. “She still has room to grow, but she’s done a tremendous job for us so far and we look forward to having her for the next couple years.”
Also helping Brawley to the win was junior Logan Nemlowill and Taylor Carranza who combined for 13 kills keeping the Tiger passers on their toes throughout the game.
“For Taylor, this is her senior year so she’s really matured as a player,” Finnell said. “And Logan, I’ve said if she’s confident and aggressive she can be the best player in the Valley.”
Finnell said he believed his team’s participation in a tournament over the weekend against tough and tall teams helped the Wildcats see their potential heading into Tuesday’s game against the Tigers, who are the defending Imperial Valley League champions.
“I also told them in the locker room before the game that this team gets along better or as well as any team that I’ve ever coached,” Finnell said. “They want to play well for each other and I think that helped late in the game.”
Nemlowill echoed her coaches comments saying the team has played together since club ball and has carried that chemistry through to high school.
Nemlowill also credited her strong performance at the net to constant practice and repetition.
“It’s just working to get off the net quickly and seeing which spots are open on the other side,” she said.
The win keeps the Wildcats undefeated and hands Imperial its first loss with a little more than half the league schedule still to be played.
Finnell recognized the victory keeps the Wildcats atop of the IVL standings, yet knew there were still plenty of games to be played.
“We had a good crowd (Tuesday night) and I think that helped, but we know (Imperial will) probably have the same,” Finnell said.
Both teams also have yet to face Central Union High, who could be a dark horse in the IVL race this year.
Brawley returns to action at 6 p.m. on Thursday remaining at home to take on Holtville High, while the Tigers head back to Imperial to face the Spartans at the same day and time.