Pierce Takes It to Citrus in Volleyball

Except for a little Brahma drama in the first game, host Pierce College had little difficulty on Tuesday night squeezing Citrus College out of the first round of the women’s volleyball state playoffs.

Sixth-seeded Pierce (18-2) began its first-ever state tournament match by falling eight points behind 11th-seeded Citrus but rallied to sweep, 17-15, 15-9, 15-10.

“We came out a little tense,” Pierce Coach Steve Gazzaniga said. “We had a hard time adjusting. They did a lot of different things, quick sets and different formations, that we weren’t used to seeing in our league.”

The Pierce players also weren’t accustomed to seeing a player the caliber of Citrus star Dana Chalais, who rained kills in the early going.

“She crushed us in the beginning,” Gazzaniga said. “She’s probably the best individual we’ve faced all year.”

Gradually, though, the Pierce defense strengthened, and Pierce’s combination of setter Amy Sodek and outside hitter Anna Suarez began to put its own stamp on the game.

With Pierce middle blockers Carina Sailer and Andrea Banducci frustrated by formidable Citrus middle blocking, Sodek went outside to Suarez, who finished with a team-leading 16 kills.

After Pierce fell behind, 14-11, in the first game, Suarez rallied her teammates with kills on three of the next four exchanges.

She also ended the second game with a kill as the Citrus defense fell into increasing disarray.

With the victory, Pierce moves into the final eight of the southern half of the tournament and will play at third-seeded El Camino College on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Citrus, a Foothill Conference representative, finished 16-3.