Golden West Defeats Cerritos to Win Title

Golden West and Cerritos started this weekend tied for the top spot in the Southern California volleyball poll.

But Golden West surely will be No. 1 after beating the Falcons twice, each time in five games, to win the Santa Barbara Tournament. The teams have combined to win the last three State titles.

Golden West, which won State titles in 1990-91, took the first two games of the title match, 15-7, 15-3. Cerritos, the defending State champion, rallied to win, 15-9, 15-8, but the Rustlers regained their winning form to take the final game, 15-8.

Jaimie Torromeo had 14 kills and Becki Gehlke added 12 for Golden West (9-0).

The teams had met earlier Sunday in the winners’ bracket final.

Becca Foltz had 15 kills as Golden West rallied for a 13-15, 15-10, 9-15, 15-11, 15-5 victory.

“The first match was the key for us,” Golden West Coach Albert Gasparian said. “We came out flat and were a little bit soft. But we picked it up when we had to and that was good. But we have a lot of room for improvement.”