Vikings capture Coast title with 4-1 win over Cabrillo

WVC celebrates its 2019 sophomores and the Coast title after defeating Cabrillo
WVC celebrates its 2019 sophomores and the Coast title after defeating Cabrillo

The West Valley beach volleyball team made history Friday as it captured its first-ever Coast Conference championship with a 4-1 win over rival Cabrillo in Saratoga. The Vikings (12-7, 8-2 Coast) entered the day one match behind Fresno City, but the Rams dropped a 3-2 match to Foothill and a 4-1 match to Gavilan to cede the title to WVC.

Viking 4's Claire Danna and Gabriela Valencia completed an undefeated CCCAA season with a 21-15, 22-20 win over Cabrillo's Lily French and Sierra Martin. The other early round match saw WVC 5's Elizabeth McGrath and Lizhya Shoomoonof sweep Summer Elston and Katy Haworth 22-20, 21-6. The late round opened with the match of the day as Seahawk 2's Lina Fiso and Jolie Samuelson rallied past Katrina Hochmuth and Rene Wash 20-22, 21-10, 15-11. West Valley 3's Kayla Keller and Hannah Reynoso held off Briana Ayala and Ari Rodriguez 21-17, 25-23, while Kaylin Henderson and Mapuhola Sekona swept Cabrillo's Ellie Cary and Jordyn Skucius 21-14, 21-18 in the 1's.

The West Valley match win gave the Vikings a first-ever season sweep of the Seahawks (4-11, 3-6). Under the direction of Head Coach Armen Zakarian, the Vikings have steadily risen from a winless inaugural season in 2015 to the championship of one of the most competitive leagues in the CCCAA. West Valley shares the 2019 Coast title with Gavilan, as the teams split 3-2 matches during the regular season and both finished at 8-2. The Vikings travel to the Coast pairs tournament Friday (4/26) at Gavilan and then will compete in the CCCAA NorCal Team Championships May 1 at a site to be determined.