State Women's Volleyball Semifinal #2: Feather River outduels Long Beach in 4

Long Beach finishes in a third place tie at state

FOLSOM -- It was the ultimate street fight Saturday night between two colleges known for their spirited fans and a swagger their teams and student-athletes often show, especially in the state spotlight.

Once again, it was First Team All-American outside hitter Chloe Albiez putting on a clinic in all facets of the game as she helped North #3 seed Feather River College rally from a set down to edge underdog and original South #14 seed Long Beach City in four sets in the 3C2A State Women's Volleyball Championship semifinals. 

This sets up the championship match between the top two ranked teams in the final regular season CCCWVCA Top 25 as the Golden Eagles face South #1 San Diego Mesa on Sunday for all the marbles at 2 p.m.

Albiez, last year's state tourney MVP as a freshman, rifled 22 kills in 53 attempts (hit .321), made 10 digs, had six block assists and landed three aces in a virtuoso performance. Other key players for FRC were Tiara Faupula with nine kills (.412) and six blocks, Peyton Estes and her 17 digs, Teya Gibbs with 46 assists and 10 digs, Madison Millanes scoring five kills and five blocks, and Mia Rivera totaling a team-best seven block assists. Carol Manu overcame some early hitting struggles to finish with 18 kills. 

Feather River totaled 14 blocks for points overall and extended its winning streak to 17 in a row. 

"We're the same, Feather River and Long Beach," said FRC head coach Sarah Ritchie. "We bring a great fan base, and they travel well with their fan base, and we both have loud voices, so the gym was rocking. Long Beach was really tough on us and tooled our block at times at the net. I was concerned after the first set, but our MVP Chloe just brings it on and takes us on her back like she has done her two seasons here for us. That and we got a great match out of Tiare, who blocked and hit well. We have one more big match and we expect another challenge against San Diego Mesa."

The amazing turnaround year of Long Beach comes to an end after four postseason victories (20 percent of their 20 victories), a 2-8 start to the year, and an improbable run to a third place tie at state. The Vikings were paced by lefty opposite Kyla Jones, who scored 17 kills, Cynthia Hinojosa's 10 kills (.333), three blocks and two aces, nine kills and 12 digs by Isabella Salgado, and 26 digs turned in by libero Tyreana Allen. Top middle blocker Rylee Tuaolo was defended well by FRC's net block and finished with five kills, five blocks and two aces. 

"We always say in practice let's get one percent better every match and every season," said LBCC head coach Tyler Jackson. "It's especially tough to compete in the South Region with so many teams that are comparable, but we got to state last year, and now we got better by winning a match at state this year and reaching the semifinals. When I talk about the getting better by a percent at a time that applies to Kyla Jones, who as a freshman made so much improvement from the early part of the season to now."

In the opening set, Feather River went out in front, 7-4, on three consecutive blocks, all three involving Albiez. After five ties, it was the duo of Rivera and Faupula roofing two LBCC attacks as FRC led 14-10. With her back to the net, a two-hand volley by Jones landed for a kill as Long Beach roared back, then taking the lead on a Jones kill at 18-17.

Albiez put on a serving clinic with a three straight aces for a 21-20 Feather River advantage. With the Golden Eagles ahead, 23-21, the Vikings mounted another rally as Hinojosa ripped a kill to get to set point at 24-23. Albiez responded with a soft lob over the block to tie, but Hinojosa scored another kill and teamed with Tuaolo for a set-point block, giving LBCC the set.

Feather River rolled in set #2, jumping out to a 15-7 as Manu delivered four kills in a 6-point period. Albiez had the gym jumping when she hit a cannon shot at 23-12, finishing her own 3-point run on kills as FRC tied the match at 1-1.

The third set was an all-out war as both teams blasted away, never pulling away from each other as there were 13 ties, the last at 22-22 on a kill by Manu. With sideout and Gibbs serving, FRC took advantage of a few unforced attack errors, then Manu put away set point and gave her team a 2-1 games lead.

In the fourth, LBCC was close down 9-8 on a duel block by Tuaolo and Hinojosa. FRC upped it to 13-9, then Long Beach traded salvos with four ties before an Albiez power ball started a 4-0 run with a kill and block by Millanes to get the lead to four again at 20-16. Feather River kept up the pressure and held match point at 24-18, but the Vikings had one last run with Jones capping a 3-0 spurt on a kill.

A service error ended things as Feather River looks to become the first repeat state champion since Los Angeles Pierce (2010-2012). The Golden Eagles had swept Long Beach early in the season. 

Long Beach went 18-2 in its final 20 matches. 

Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA/3C2A State Tournament SID