Cypress Wins Inaugural Cerritos Tourney
By Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA Sports Information
Cypress College dug deep and won all five of its matches to take home the inaugural 12-team Cerritos Tournament title Sept. 12-13 in Norwalk. Cerritos opened a brand new gymnasium in the last year and made its first tourney a successfully-run event.
The Chargers swept San Bernardino Valley and Cuesta in pool play. In the playoffs, Cypress swept Glendale, and then downed College of the Canyons in four to reach the title match.
That marked a battle of the unbeatens against El Camino as the Warriors jumped ahead 2-0 in sets before Cypress stormed back to win the title, 19-25, 24-26, 25-17, 25-17, 15-9.
"The Cerritos tournament was a good test for our team," said Cypress head coach Nancy Welliver. "We got to play several lineups and play a lot of good volleyball. Beating El Camino was a big win for our team. They are very athletic, and it was great volleyball for this early in the season."
OH Lindsey Ray totaled 27 kills and five blocks and OH Charity Dennis delivered 20 kills in the title match. Setter Zhane Bender averaged a steady 9.7 assists in the five matches.
For El Camino, the second place trophy was bittersweet, especially after the Warriors won 14 consecutive sets to start the tournament. ECC swept Cuyamaca, Glendale, Cuesta, and South Coast Conference foe Long Beach City before meeting Cypress.
MB Kimberly Haney led El Camino with 15 kills v. Cypress and totaled 57 kills in the tournament. OH Nicole Echeverri added 38 kills and 68 digs while OH Darlene Lee had 91 digs, 36 against Cypress.
Canyons finished 3-1 at the tourney, scoring 4-game wins over Imperial Valley, Long Beach, and Cerritos before losing to Cypress. OH Serena Leduff totaled 55 kills and 62 digs, and DS Keirstyn Anderson made 78 digs for the Cougars.
Santa Monica officially took third place on a 4-1 record with a 4-set victory over host Cerritos in the playoffs, the second time it beat the Falcons after a sweep in pool play. The Corsairs also downed Victor Valley in five and swept Cuesta while losing in five to Long Beach. OH Greta Schmittdiel was a kills machine with 118 kills in five matches, including 31 each v. Victor Valley and Cerritos. She also served 22 aces, 11 v. VVC.
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Cypress def. El Camino, 19-25, 24-26, 25-17, 25-17, 15-9
THIRD PLACE
Santa Monica def. Cerritos, 25-14, 25-18, 24-26, 25-21
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
Cypress def. College of the Canyons, 25-15, 20-25, 25-18, 25-19
Cypress def. Glendale, 25-17, 25-19, 25-12
El Camino def. Long Beach City, 25-13, 25-18, 25-15
El Camino def. Cuesta, 25-13, 25-15, 25-19
Long Beach City def. Santa Monica, 12-25, 25-23, 8-25, 25-9, 15-13
College of the Canyons def. Cerritos, 26-24, 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 15-7
Cerritos def. Glendale, 25-14, 25-21, 24-26, 25-21
Santa Monica def. Cuesta, 25-21, 25-16, 25-14
CONSOLATION BRACKET
Victor Valley def. Cuyamaca, 25-12, 25-14, 25-18
San Bernardino Valley def. Imperial Valley, 25-19, 25-21, 25-11
Victor Valley def. Imperial Valley, 25-12, 25-23, 25-16
San Bernardino def. Cuyamaca, 25-17, 25-10, 25-14
POOL PLAY
Santa Monica def. Cerritos, 25-20, 25-18, 27-25
Santa Monica def. Victor Valley, 25-17, 23-25, 21-25, 25-17, 15-5
Cerritos def. Victor Valley, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 15-13
Cypress def. San Bernardino Valley, 25-18, 25-16, 25-19
Cypress def. Cuesta, 25-16, 25-13, 25-14
Cuesta def. San Bernardino Valley, 16-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-9
College of the Canyons def. Imperial Valley, 25-14, 25-17, 21-25, 25-5
College of the Canyons def. Long Beach City, 25-11, 17-25, 25-15, 25-23
Long Beach City def. Imperial Valley, 25-20, 19-25, 25-15, 25-17
El Camino def. Cuyamaca, 25-6, 25-11, 25-18
El Camino def. Glendale, 25-9, 25-11, 25-1
Glendale def. Cuyamaca, 25-13, 25-22, 25-15