Bari Sparks Dana Hills Past Capistrano Valley in Four

With her team leading two games to one and with the biggest obstacle between her and the South Coast League title threatening on the other side of the net, Jami Bari came up swinging Thursday at Capistrano Valley.

Bari had six kills and two service winners to help the Dana Hills girls’ volleyball team overwhelm Capistrano Valley in the fourth game to win, 15-10, 15-5, 5-15, 15-3.

With Bari hitting balls perfectly down the left sideline and Leslie Punelli serving, Dana Hills jumped to an 8-0 lead in the fourth game and never looked back.

“Our serving was really tough and we were getting a lot of swings and we were just giving it to Jami and she was on fire,” Dana Hills Coach Dave Hollaway said.

Dana Hills, ranked No. 4 in the county, improved to 13-3 and 6-0 in league and has a relatively clear path through the rest of the season.

No. 6 Capistrano Valley (10-3, 4-2) had high hopes for a league title, but Thursday’s loss was its second to the Dolphins this season. Unless Dana Hills falters, Capistrano Valley probably will have to settle for second place.

“We’re disappointed,” Cougar Coach John Gipe said. “Our ultimate goal is a CIF championship, though. We wanted league, obviously, because that’s one of the steps.”

With setter Andy Filbeck playing in her first match since severely spraining her ankle Oct. 14, the Cougars jumped to a 9-2 lead in the first game. But Dana Hills’ blocking game then began to click and the Dolphins came back to tie it, 10-10.

The Cougars failed to score after that and Bari won the game with a kill. Dana Hills easily won the second game but Capistrano Valley jumped to an 8-3 lead in the third and never let up.

Bari led Dana Hills with 19 kills and Michelle Chambers and Jamie Fowler each had eight blocks. Brooke Overholt led Capistrano Valley with 10 kills.