Highlanders remain undefeated after sweep of Chino Hills
Upland overcomes early challenge, wins Baseline match in 3 sets
Upland’s Brooke McKee, left, leaps in the air as Samantha Parks, center, and Erin McNeill celebrate during their Baseline League victory against Chino Hills on Tuesday night.
CHINO HILLS >> If the Upland girls volleyball team is going to win its first Baseline League title since 2008, the Highlanders are going to have to thwart challengers looking to avenge previous losses.
September isn’t even half over, but Upland passed its first test in that regard Tuesday.
The Highlanders withstood a quick start by host Chino Hills to record a 2522, 25-19, 25-16 victory.
“They (Huskies) came out very energetic and we knew that they were looking to avenge a loss in the Queen’s Court Tournament,” Upland coach Scott Robertson said. “I’m proud of how we responded.”
The Queen’s Court Tournament is one of the final summer tournaments each August before regular-season play begins, and Upland defeated Chino Hills in the final of the Varsity Division a little more than a month ago.
Chino Hills coach Joe Schnake thought it was personal for his team, not necessarily from Queen’s Court, but also from their club teams. And it didn’t really help.
“We really wanted to win. They know each other. These girls have friends on their team and enemies,” Schnake said.
The victory gives Upland a 12-0 record, 2-0 in league. Chino Hills dropped to 4-3, 0-1.
Chino Hills got off to a quick start in the first set, taking 6-0 and 8-1 leads that were very short-lived. Upland took its first lead at 11-10 and eventually led 22-16. Chino Hills rallied with six straight points before Upland scored the final three, with a kill by Riley Contreras providing the final point.
Upland got off to a quicker start in the second
Chino Hills’ Malena Thé, right, has her shot blocked by Upland’s Erin McNeill during Tuesday night’s match.
set, but didn’t put it out of reach until late. Chino Hills was within three points as late as 19-16. The Highlanders swept aside a potential Chino Hills rally in the third set by jumping out to a 15-6 lead and never letting the Huskies get closer than seven points thereafter.
Schnake said his team was much better at following the game plan in the first two sets than in the third.
“We needed to have quick sets (on offense), which we want to do especially against taller opponents,” he said. “We didn’t do that in the third. They were able to set up their defense better,”
Schnake said experience was also a factor. The Huskies start three freshmen: setter Cierra Grant, right side Maya Banks and middle blocker Camryn Daniels. Upland has just two freshmen on its roster.
“They’re trying to beat girls that are mostly all seniors,” Schnake said. “But I’m proud of their effort.”
Senior outside hitter Tehya Chadwick led the way for Chino Hills with
10 kills while junior Alexia Athans hit at a .308 clip. Senior Taryn Saunders had five blocks, junior Erin Lim had 12 assists and four aces and Grant added 11 assists.
Chino Hills had trouble handling the Upland front line, including Contreras and Brooke McKee, who are both seniors.
“I thought Riley Contreras had a good match and Brooke is always going to get her five kills a set,” Robertson said.
McKee entered the match averaging 5.1 kills per set.
Upland was just coming off a victory in Division 2 of the Dave Mohs Tournament last weekend, but Robertson wasn’t worried about a letdown.
“All five other teams in Baseline League are going to be tough. It was a lost year last year,” Robertson said. “We have a good senior group who knows we have a lot we want to accomplish.”
Upland entered the week among the “others receiving votes” in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 rankings, while Chino Hills was ranked No. 4 in Division 5.