FALL SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS : Canyon’s Best Effort Is No Match for Nordhoff

There are two ways to view the Canyon High girls volleyball team’s 15-0, 15-3, 15-10 loss Thursday night to No. 1-ranked Nordhoff in the Southern Section 3-A Division semifinal at Ventura College.

One opinion might be that Canyon (16-1), ranked sixth, gave less than a final-four performance. But despite the scores, Canyon played one of its finest matches of the season. Canyon, which advanced to the semifinal for the first time, simply ran into one of the most talented groups of high school players in the Southland. Nordhoff, (15-0) which won the past two 2-A titles before moving to the 3-A Division this season, will meet Calabasas in the final Saturday at Marina High in Huntington Beach at 3:30 p.m. Calabasas defeated Sunny Hills in Thursday’s other semifinal match, 15-9, 17-15, 2-15, 15-8.

“If we had beaten them it would have been the biggest upset in the world,” Canyon middle blocker Jenny Pinkerton said.

Hyperbole aside, Pinkerton’s point is well taken.

Canyon played steadily in the opening game but scored no points. Nordhoff middle blocker Leeana Merriweather, who ended with a match-high 16 kills, was unstoppable. It looked as though the match would end before the Canyon bus was properly parked.

Pinkerton kept Canyon in the match, blocking effectively in the second and third games.

“The last two games she has really come on,” Canyon Coach Ardyce Masters said.

Canyon was unprepared for Nordhoff’s quick-paced offense. Canyon tried to adjust, setting the outside hitters who hit down the line or off the Nordhoff blockers.

“We tried to used the block as much as possible,” Masters said. “We didn’t feel like we could hit over them very often. We tried to find the holes.”

Canyon trailed 8-5 in the third game, before tying the score on a Shannon Miller block and two Leicha Wojciechowski kills. Nordhoff scored once before Julie Badillo’s hit off the Nordhoff block tied the game at nine. But Canyon could not handle Merriweather and middle blocker Amy Svikhart, who ended with eight kills, and scored only one more point in the match.

“We challenged them so much in the middle,” Nordhoff Coach Cheryl Glass said. “Leeana speeded up her approach and it made all the difference in the world.”

Or at least in the Southland, which is all Glass really need worry about this season.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Calabasas def. Sunny Hills, 15-9, 17-15, 2-15, 15-8--Sandi Thomsen and Tracey Gonzales each had 13 kills to lead Calabasas to the win in 3-A semifinal. Kelly Martin added eight digs for Calabasas (13-4), which will play Nordhoff on Saturday for the title.

Thousand Oaks def. Western, 11-15, 15-4, 15-13, 15-12--Julie Chellevold had 16 kills to lead Thousand Oaks to the 2-A semifinal win at Cypress High. Thousand Oaks (16-4) also received strong performances from reserves Jamie Heggen and Shireen Campbell. Thousand Oaks trailed in the third game, 13-5, but Kristin McIntyre served eight straight points to lead the comeback.

Campbell Hall def. Whittier Christian, 15-12, 15-12, 13-15, 13-15, 15-6--Cherise Smith had 26 kills to lead Campbell Hall to the 1-A semifinal win at California High. Nicole Holland added 44 assists for Campbell Hall (17-2), which will play Brentwood for the championship on Saturday.

Chatsworth def. Kennedy, 15-1, 15-3, 15-4--Hitters Elizabeth Darcey and Laura Bankowski, and setter Andrea Ibanez led Chatsworth to the City Section quarterfinal victory. Chatsworth (14-1) plays University on Wednesday.

GIRLS TENNIS

La Reina 9, Pasadena Poly 9--La Reina won the match on total games won, 79-74. Corinne Heinzman and Katie Glynn combined to win five of their six singles matches for La Reina, which will face Mayfield, the top seed, on Tuesday for the 1-A championship.

Chaminade 14, Valencia 4--Faire Stanley, Abaigail Vellena and Sarah Eipe each swept three singles matches to lead Chaminade to the 2-A semifinal win. Chaminade’s No. 3 doubles team, Alelie Silva and Ann Lewin, beat Valencia’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams. On Tuesday, Chaminade will face Indio, the defending champion, for the 2-A title. Last season, Indio eliminated Chaminade in the semifinals.

Indio 10, Louisville 8--Robyn Brown and Lauralyn McCarthy won two of their three singles matches, but Louisville lost the 2-A semifinal at Studio City. Louisville finishes the season 16-7.