Central Section volleyball: Championships recap, participants and state CIF matchups
The Clovis West girls volleyball team is Central Section champion once again.
The top-seeded Golden Eagles defeated No. 2 Clovis North 23-25, 26-20, 25-18, 25-17 for the Division I championship at West Hills-Lemoore’s Golden Eagle Arena on Saturday.
It was the first section finals for Divisions I-V since 2019. The 2020 championships were canceled because of COVID-19.
Clovis West won the section title in 2019, defeating Liberty-Bakersfield in five sets.
Clovis West roster: Grace White, Kristen Landen, Anaya Uriarte, Gabby Russell, Kyra Shambourger, Rhya Williams, Aliya Helsley, Taylor Martinez, Emiko Diaz, Malie Gallion, Emily Rosa, Aidan Goodrich, Kylie Wancewicz, Emma Winter, Georgia Jones, Amanda Pirok, Maddie Rey, Elliana Norbeck
Clovis North roster: Evania Sanchez, Sheyanne Hike, Peyton Bitter, Kyra Miller, Becca Drake, Renee Phillips, Siena Falk, Ava Rogers, Alyssa Antonino, Loie Madsen, Morgan Wilson, Kennedy Lingenfelter, Tyra Kelly, Sierra Garza, Karly Jones, Chelsea Haydock, Ella Slayden, Lily Villegas.
Division II
Top-seed Stockdale knocked off No. 7 Clovis East 25-21, 26-24, 31-29 in the section final.
It is the Mustangs’ first section title since 2004.
Third-seeded Kerman, the top small school in the section, lost to Clovis East in the semifinals.
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Stockdale roster: Abby Chester, Brinkley Funkhouser, Hannah Pacheco, Sophie Schonauer, Morgan Cole, Bree Lewis, Bella Valenzuela, Kamryn Henderson, Jasmine Larsen, Hope Enriquez, Taylor Henderson, Viena Perier.
Clovis East roster: Jordyn Kwalwasser, Liv Riley, Madelyn Feramisco, Mia Dilley, Malia Edwardson, Jayden Xiong, Elaine Aguilar, Kendall Reagan, Fatima Diaz, Feyi Olukanni, Frisha Divinagracia, Melanie Quijano, Erika Phanouvong.
Division III
No. 3 St. Joseph defeated No. 6 Buchanan 25-11, 25-21, 25-19, 22-25, 15-12 for the Knights’ first Central Section title.
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St. Joseph roster: Federica Serra, Catherine Noe, Tui Auau, Vanneza Sevilla, Gifti Tefera, Bailey Woodside, Natalie Tunnell, Grace Mensah, Jordyn Thomas, Hailey Romero, Sara Plemmons, Maggie Perez, Emily Tunnell.
Buchanan roster: Jemma Nelson, Gursimran Gill, Reyna Wade, Alayna Grinstead, Saiya Sohal, Heather Boyd, Savanna FautleRoy, Savanna Fauntleroy, Addison Ramirez, Rylee Gonzles, Phoebe Constable, Harleen Dhillon, Grace Goudy, Reagan Francis, Reagan Francis, Camila Mota, Ava Wells, Kalli Sanchez, Logan DeManby, Clara Garcia.
Division IV
No. 8 Garces defeated No. 2 East Bakersfield 25-17, 15-25, 25-11, 25-21.
The Rams last won a section title in 2016.
Garces eliminated top-seeded Caruthers in the quarterfinals.
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Garces roster: Nikaela Gonzales, Aspen Chang, Jessica Hernandez, Emma Machado, Allison Martin, Carly Hogg, Laurel Magar, Rosita Menta, Erin Nail, Samantha Rogers, Mia D’Amato, Madison Camarillo, Melanie Haught.
East Bakersfield roster: Trinity Chavaria, Arianney Barrera, Sophia Martinez, Kielah Holmes, Laila Baameur, Marie Madera, Isabelle Zavala, Andrea Beltran, Kaitlyn Cisneros, Natalie Portillo, Talia Johnson, Kayleen Melgoza, Isabella Farias, Isabela Nuñez, Joanna Balandran
Division V
Mission Oak picked up its first second title since 2017 when the Hawks defeated Reedley 25-12, 25-22, 25-18.
Sariah Serrano had 13 kills and 14 digs to lead Mission Oak and Margaret Arambula had 11 kills. Aurora Sotelo finished with 21 digs for the Hawks.
Mission Oak won the Division III title in 2017 over Yosemite in four sets.
Mission Oak roster: Auliya Gonzales, Stevie Martin, Rebekah Beasley, Sariah Serrano, Deslie Rios, London Jones, Rilynn Fien, Leslie Rodriguez, Margaret Arambula, Hannah Vieira, Aurora Sotelo, Gianna Cardenas, Bailee Bustos and Grace Chojnacki.
Reedley roster: Kalleah Jimenez, Alexa Valdez, Ashlee Chavez, Areal Galvan, Lauren Torres, Katelyn Medina-Perez, Olivia Nourian, Kyana Rivera, Ciara Zarate, Makenna Gobby, Lilian Martinez, Mary Jane Lucero, Jennifer Guillen.
State playoffs
Clovis West was seeded No. 5 in the eight-team Northern California Open Division bracket announced Sunday by the California Interscholastic Federation. The Golden Eagles play Wednesday at Menlo School at 6 p.m.
Divisions I-V are 16-team regional brackets beginning with first-round matches Tuesday at 6 p.m. including:
D-I: North, No. 15 Salinas at No. 2 Clovis North; South, No. 9 San Clemente at No. 8 Central Valley Christian
D-II: North, No. 1 Clovis bye; No. 14 Clovis East at No. 3 Burlingame
D-III: South, No. 11 Kerman at No. 6 Mayfield
D-IV: North, No. 9 Manteca at No. 8 Buchanan; South, No. 12 Cleveland at No. 5 Tulare Western; No. 14 Birmingham at No. 3 Exeter
D-V: North, No. 16 Reedley at No. 1 The Bay School; No. 10 Sierra Pacific at No. 7 East Nicolaus; South, No. 16 Mission Oak at No. 1 Santa Clarita Christian
This story was originally published November 7, 2021 at 10:14 AM.
