High school postseason: A five-set volleyball championship and a ‘historical’ moment
Jon Jay has had a lot of success as the Buchanan High boys volleyball coach, winning numerous section titles.
Now in his second season as the Bears girls volleyball coach, he can add another championship to his résumé.
The top-seeded Bears and No. 2 Central Valley Christian played a thrilling match, going five sets as Buchanan won 25-20, 15-25, 19-25, 25-17, 15-6 Thursday to claim the Central Section Division II championship.
It’s Buchanan’s ninth section title, first since 2018 when the Bears won in D-I.
The message Jay sent to his player before the fifth set was played?
“’You’ve been here before. We’ve played a lot five-set matches,’” Jay told the team. “After that, the captains took over. Grace Goudy gave them a little speech. Savanna Fauntleroy said something. Phoebe Constable said something. The girls had their moments within themselves. They just basically said, ‘We’re going to do this and let’s go.’”
Off the Bears went, dominating the fifth set, led by Goudy who finished with 25 kills and 26 digs. Constable finished with 27 digs and Fauntleroy totaled 14 digs and 53 assists.
The Bears were relieved that they came out on top against a tough Cavaliers team.
“We were aggressive,” Goudy said. “I think that’s what did it. It means a lot, more than you probably think it does.”
Said Fauntleroy: “I’m overwhelmed with joy and pride. We worked so hard to get to this moment.”
Jay said the momentum “flipped” after set four.
He knew his team was on their way to a title after getting the first few points to give them the boost to close out the championship. He was proud of his team and rattled off several key players for the clinching win.
“They weren’t going to be denied,” he said. “Everything was falling our way. We served tough. They were doing their job and role and playing for the girl next to them.”
Division I
No. 3 Liberty-Bakersfield 3, No. 4 Clovis West 1
It was tough sledding for the Golden Eagles, falling to the Patriots 25-21, 16-25, 25-22, 25-16 in a rematch of the D-I championship that was won last year by Clovis West.
The Golden Eagles were aiming for their eighth section championship, but that will have to wait another season. It’s Liberty’s first section championship since 2016.
Haley Rangel led Clovis West with 12 kills and Haley Soares finished with 11 kills.
Division III
No. 1 Kingsburg 3, No. 7 Santa Ynez 0
The Vikings dispatched the Pirates 25-21, 25-19, 25-17.
The Vikings were coming off a section title in Division IV in 2019 when they defeated Sierra Pacific in a sweep.
Kingsburg got to this season’s championship with wins over El Diamante, Bullard and Yosemite.
Division IV
No. 3 Fresno Christian 3, No. 4 Hanford 0
The Eagles captured the school’s first section volleyball championship with a 25-22, 25-23, 25-22 victory over the Bullpups.
It was a long time coming for the Eagles, who came close to a section title before.
“Historical moment for Fresno Christian,” Eagles coach Steven Guglielmana said. “Fifteen months in the making. I’m a very blessed person and thankful for the opportunity to coach these amazing young lades that represent Fresno Christian. They are a class act and very much strive and strain to honor God in their words and deeds.”
Fresno Christian was runner-up in 2009 and 2010, falling to Mission Prep and Kings Christian.
Sarah Guglielmana made sure that wasn’t going to happen again when she led the Eagles with 13 kills. She also had four digs and nine assists.
Division V
No. 3 Minarets 3, No. 5 Washington Union 2
In a match delayed two days because of a power outage, the host Mustangs rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win Saturday afternoon.
The outage occurred Thursday about 20 minutes before the match was to start.
Division VI
No. 2 Frazier Mountain swept No. 9 West to capture the section championship.
It’s the first section championship for Frazier Mountain since 2015 when it won the Division V title.
Golf: Immanuel’s Karis Haltom wins championship
Immanuel High golfer Karis Haltom won the section tournament with a round of 74 at San Luis Obispo Country Club on Monday.
Haltom moves on to the Southern Regionals next week after her first-place finish.
She will be joined by Julianna Honea of Atascadero (77), Annie Heybl of St. Joseph (87), Sophie Wong of Stockdale (88) and Mackenzie Phelan of Santa Ynez (89).
Arroyo Grande won the section title (407), followed by Clovis West (437). Both teams will compete in SoCal.
This story was originally published November 4, 2022 at 11:45 AM.
