HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL / VENTURA TOURNAMENT : Host Outlasts Nordhoff to Claim First Title in 17 Tries

For 16 years, Ventura High had played the perfect host in the Ventura Invitational volleyball tournament, always allowing another team to leave with the championship trophy.

That changed in the 17th edition of the event Saturday when the Cougars outlasted Nordhoff, 17-15, in the final.

Led by junior middle blocker Jesaca Lepper with eight kills and one block, Ventura rebounded from deficits of 5-0, 10-6 and 15-14. The Cougars had blasted Saugus, 15-8, in the semifinals.

“This thing has been going on for 17 years and we don’t have much to show for it,” Ventura Coach Mike Russell said. “Nordhoff is a great team, but they don’t have Jesaca Lepper.”

Nordhoff used strong serving to forge leads of 5-0 and 10-6, but then Lepper and setter Shelley Morrison (five kills, eight assists) took control. Morrison had two key kills for sideouts and a dump shot for a point. Then the 6-foot-1 Lepper scored four points on powerful spikes as the Cougars jumped ahead, 14-10.

Nordhoff had been on the ropes at 11-4 in the semifinals against Canyon, but rallied for a 15-13 victory. And lightning nearly struck again for the Rangers in the final. Sparked by clutch serving by Rikka Zimmerman and three booming kills by Allison Kerr, the Rangers tied the score, 14-14.

An Alison Nofrey hit from the middle gave Nordhoff a 15-14 edge, but Jessica Richardson’s dink earned the Cougars a sideout and Nofrey pushed a spike wide to make it 15-15. Amy Hudson used an effective dink to give Ventura the lead again and a Richardson ace ended the match.

“Nordhoff always comes back,” Russell said. “You have to expect it. They are a very experienced team. I thought it was going to get away from us, but we really made some clutch plays.”

Nordhoff senior setter Sami Sawyer, who joined Lepper, Morrison, Richardson and Saugus’ Lindsay Estes on the all-tournament team, said she was pleased with the Rangers’ performance.

“We played the best tournament we have ever played here,” Sawyer said.

Saugus was in a celebratory mood after winning its pool with an 8-0 record and beating Foothill League rival Canyon, 15-5, for third place. “That was the one we wanted,” Saugus Coach Bobbi Estes said. “Saugus had never beaten Canyon before. It helps us get over the Canyon mystique.”