STATE GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : DIVISION IV : Calvary Chapel Settles Debt With a Title

After waiting a year for a second chance, Calvary Chapel didn’t waste any time putting away its opponent in the Division IV State championship match.

It took about an hour for Calvary Chapel to defeat Orinda Miramonte, 15-6, 15-5, 15-2, at Cal State Fullerton Saturday and win the school’s first State championship in girls’ volleyball.

The Eagles’ victory equaled the most lopsided margin of victory in a State Division IV title match. In 1992, Ojai Nordhoff defeated Forestville Molino, 15-2, 15-7, 15-4.

Calvary Chapel’s Courtney Owens, the Division IV tournament MVP, led a balanced attack with 15 kills, Jenny Roberts added 11 and Lynn Lovingier had 10.

Last season, Calvary Chapel (20-4) lost to San Jose Archbishop Mitty in four games in the State Division IV title match.

“This feels a lot better than last year,” said Owens, a 5-foot-9 senior who has orally committed to Colorado. “We knew this was our year. It was now or never.”

Miramonte (22-5) had never seen a team of Calvary Chapel’s caliber. Although the Matadors had four starters 6 feet or taller, they couldn’t take advantage at the net because of poor ball control.

“That’s the toughest team we’ve played by a longshot,” Miramonte Coach Leslie McKinley said. “Our passing wasn’t there, but that’s partly because their serving was so strong.”

Calvary Chapel’s toughest server was Lovingier, a 5-10 senior who has orally committed to Tennessee.

She served four consecutive points, including two aces, to help the Eagles take a 12-4 lead in Game 1. In Game 2, Lovingier and Jenny Roberts, a 6-foot junior, took over after Miramonte took a 2-0 lead.

After Sara Roberts (nine kills, nine digs) spiked from the left side for side out, Lovingier served six consecutive points. Jenny Roberts had two blocks and a kill during the run and Lovingier had two aces.

Owens, who also had 10 digs, opened the floodgates with three consecutive kills, then another kill by Lovingier gave the Eagles an 11-3 lead in Game 2.

“We played in spurts early,” Calvary Chapel Coach Jim Downey said. “But in the third game, the kids just played hard and took off.”

The Eagles scored 14 of the first 15 points in Game 3. After Jenny Roberts spiked from the middle for a side out, her older sister, Sara, spiked off the block for match point.