In last night's Big 8 Conference match up, the Pirates (9-5, 4-1 Big 8) and Hawks (11-6, 2-3) were evenly matched. Pirates came into the match ranked 13th in Norcal, with the Hawks sitting at 14th. Both teams had faced 8 of the same opponents leading up to the match.
The first set was led by the Pirates who didn't let the Hawks earn a point on serve through the first rotation. Freshman Brionna Sims (Pitman HS) went on a 6-point serving run to get the Pirates up 10 points on the Hawks. Pirates would win set 1, 25-17.
Set 2 started out as expected with the Pirates and Hawks trading points up to 7-8. Setter Lanai Torres (Orestimba HS) went to work on the service line, moving the Pirates up 6 points. It was all Pirates from there. Outside hitter Ava Chiesa turned a personal best 7 kills on 11 attempts performance, hitting .636. Torres ran a balanced offense with 12 assists while libero Camryn Wong earned 7 digs. Pirates win, 23-13.
Set 3 was exciting. It looked like the Hawks would take the set when they had the Pirates down six points at 10-16. Serving specialist Hailey Escamilla (Enochs HS) steps up to the back line at 14-18, and ties the game, 18-18. Hawks would gain a two-point lead after an MJC service error and CRC outside attack, 18-20. Pirates and Hawks trade points until MJC ties it back up with a big block in the middle, followed with a kill by Mikayla Kaufhardt, Pirates tie things up 22-22, CRC calls a timeout.
Out of the timeout, Wong nails an ace, Pirates up 23-22. Elizabeth Johnson and Sims earn a block for the Pirates, match point now 24-23. CRC runs a perfect middle attack to fend off the Pirates, 24-23. After a long rally, Johnson tips out of the middle to put the game away, earning her 7th kill of the night. Pirates win 25-23.