Match times set for Saturday’s Central Section volleyball finals

The top two teams in Central Section volleyball the past two seasons meet Saturday afternoon for the seventh time in 14 months.

This time, it’s for the section title – again. The final is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at College of the Sequoias in Visalia.

“It’s only fitting to go at it one more time,” Central coach Randy Burriss said. “I think it’s a great representation of our league (Tri-River Athletic Conference) which is tough in the Valley.”

Buchanan coach Chantal Paschetta isn’t surprised to see Central once again.

“Even last year we knew it was going to be a two-year battle,” she said.

The Grizzlies (36-4 in 2018) own a 6-1 advantage the past two seasons over the Bears (32-7).

All four matchups in 2017 went the distance, with Central winning each one.

This season, the teams split their only two meetings – Central in a sweep on Sept. 25 and Buchanan in a sweep on Oct. 11.

Both teams cruised in the section playoffs without dropping a set.

“I’m hoping for a close match,” Burriss said. “We’ll see who’s able to finish.”

Said Paschetta: “I just want both teams to show up. We didn’t show up when we went to their place and when they came to our place, they didn’t show up. You want both teams to rise to the occasion and they make you play your best game.”

Players to watch:

Central – Makayla Lewis 393 kills, 310 digs; Amethyst Harper 273 kills, 278 digs; Bailey Combs 318 kills.

Buchanan – Ashley Dittmann 392 kills, 260 digs; Lexi Pagani 267 kills, 186 digs; Mikayla Weiss 174 kills, 240 digs.

In other section championships, all at COS:

Division II - No. 1 Exeter (32-8) is seeking back-to-back championships. Last season, the Monarchs defeated Bakersfield Christian in five sets.

No. 2 El Diamante (28-4) and Exeter met in the quarterfinals in 2015, won by the Monarchs in four. Match time is 6 p.m.

Division III - Top-seed Yosemite (37-8) is seeking redemption. The Badgers lost to Mission Oak last season in four in the title match.

Yosemite got revenge over the Hawks this year, winning in five in the section quarterfinals.

No. 7 Madera South (23-19) is in the championship after picking up wins over No. 10 Highland, No. 2 Reedley and No. 6 San Joaquin Memorial. Match time is at noon.

Division IV – No. 4 Immanuel (17-20) is looking for a back-to-back championship. The Eagles advanced defeating No. 1 Mira Monte in four. No. 3 Chowchilla (27-7) swept No. 2 Kingsburg in the semifinals. Match time is at 4 p.m.

Division V – No. 1 Washington Union (31-8) had little trouble getting to the championship. The Panthers defeated No. 16 Caruthers, No. 8 Kerman and No. 4 Sierra Pacific.

No. 14 Selma (12-23) got by No. 3 Orosi, No. 6 Kings Christian and No. 2 Frazier Mountain. Match time is 10 a.m.

Central Section volleyball championships

Division V – 10 a.m., No. 14 seed Selma vs. No. 1 Washington Union

Division III – Noon, No. 7 Madera South vs. No. 1 Yosemite

Division I – 2 p.m., No. 2 Buchanan vs. No. 1 Central

Division IV – 4 p.m., No. 4 Immanuel vs. No. 3 Chowchilla

Division II – 6 p.m., No. 2 El Diamante vs. No. 1 Exeter

Girls tennis individuals

The section girls tennis individual championships conclude Saturday at Redwood High with singles and doubles semifinals at 10 a.m. and finals in the early afternoon.

This story was originally published November 2, 2018 at 8:24 AM.