PREP VOLLEYBALL / DIVISION IV SOUTHERN REGIONALS : Calvary Chapel Battles Its Way Past Tollhouse Sierra

Calvary Chapel struggled at first before defeating Tollhouse Sierra, 3-15, 15-9, 12-15, 15-7, 15-7, for the second consecutive season in the Southern Regional Division IV girls’ volleyball final Tuesday at Sierra High School.

Calvary Chapel (18-2) will play in the State Division IV final at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cal State Fullerton against the winner of a match between Linden (28-1) and Santa Rosa Ursuline (28-2).

Jenny Roberts, a 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker, had 35 kills to lead the Eagles.

Calvary Chapel fell behind in each of the first three games before junior middle blocker Jill Overby and reserve outside hitter Clarice Torrey stepped up in the final two games. Overby had most of her 19 kills and Torrey served eight aces in the fourth and fifth games.

“We just started figuring out what they were doing, relaxing a little bit and playing a little better,” Coach Jim Downey said.

Sierra (24-2), top-seeded in the Southern Region after winning its second consecutive Central Section Division IV title, stunned Calvary Chapel in the first game.

“We weren’t playing real confident and they just jumped out and went after us,” Downey said. “We made a lot of mistakes and they just kind of blew right through us.”

Sierra led, 7-2, in the second game before Calvary Chapel tied it, 9-9, and then didn’t give up another point in the game. The Eagles fell behind in the third game before tying it, 12-12, but Sierra held on to win. From there, Overby and Torrey took over.

The Eagles, defending State champions, were upset in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division IV tournament by Brawley on Nov. 14, but were awarded an at-large berth to the State tournament. They did not lose a game in their first two matches in the State tournament.

“It was the best test for us, at least it’s a test we passed,” Downey said.

Calvary Chapel defeated Sierra last year in the Southern Regional final, 16-14, 15-5, 15-4 at Calvary Chapel.