Glendale Adventist Academy volleyball keeps state run alive
GLENDALE — It’s been rare for the Glendale Adventist Academy girls’ volleyball team to hit a speed bump during its historic postseason drive.
For a while Tuesday night during a CIF State Division V Southern California Regional semifinal match, the top-seeded Cougars were anything but in cruise control.
Then things got back on track for top-seeded Glendale Adventist, which kept its playoff drive in gear with a 23-25, 25-21, 25-9, 25-17 win against fourth-seeded Riverside Carnegie in front of a packed house.
Glendale Adventist (24-5) will meet second-seeded San Diego Maranatha Christian, which swept sixth-seeded California City, in the regional final likely at 7 p.m. Saturday at a site to be determined. Glendale Adventist, which won the CIF Southern Section Division IX championship, will be the home team.
“We found ourselves down and we found a way to regroup and then take control the rest of the way,” Glendale Adventist coach Gared Luquet said. “It’s just a sign of confidence and we trust the ability that our team has.
“It was two good teams matched up and going out there to play some good volleyball. We were able to get on a roll.”
The Cougars received 15 kills from Paige Singleton, 13 from Elyse Knipschild and nine aces from Natalie Gregg to tun back Carnegie (20-7).
Carnegie, which won the Division X championship, found a way to overcome Glendale Adventist in the first set and held a 16-11 lead in the second set before the Cougars took charge.
Glendale Adventist, which tied for second in the Liberty League, closed out on a 14-5 to even the match at one set apiece. Singleton and Knipschild each had three kills in that stretch with Singleton ending it with a kill.
“That was definitely the turning point,” Singleton said. “We had to find a way there after we were down and we were able to put things together.
“The crowd got us going and it was so loud. I think they played a big part in helping us out.”
Ignited by the crowd, Glendale Adventist jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the pivotal third set on a kill down the right side by Singleton. Later in the set, Gregg stepped up and registered five aces. Her final ace made it 22-9 before a kill by Melody Coronel sealed the set.
In the fourth set, the teams traded points at a feverish pace. Singleton had a kill to give the Cougars a 16-13 lead. An ace from Gregg gave the Cougars a 22-15 advantage and a kill by Knipschild completed the comeback.
“Serving is one of my best things to do,” Gregg said. “I just felt the energy from the crowd and I got locked in serving the whole time.
“It’s just been such an amazing run and we’re doing our best to keep it going.”
Carnegie got 17 kills from Katarina Radisic.
Glendale had a first-round bye before sweeping Maywood CES in the second round Saturday.
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
