Golden West Defeats Rival Fullerton to Win State Volleyball Title

Golden West, after giving up 10 consecutive points to start the match and losing the first game, rallied to beat rival Fullerton in four games and win the state women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.

Lorna Lyttle had 23 kills and Christina Bowman had 12 as Golden West won, 8-15, 15-5, 15-7, 15-6, in the championship match.

Mariah Marquis, a freshman outside hitter, had nine kills in the championship match and was selected the tournament’s most valuable player.

It also was the fourth consecutive state title and sixth in seven seasons for Golden West (26-1) and Coach Albert Gasparian.

That it came against Fullerton was important to Gasparian and his players.

Fullerton ended Golden West’s 10-year conference winning streak earlier this season and the teams shared the Orange Empire Conference title, splitting two five-game matches.

Golden West also beat Fullerton in three games Saturday in the winners’ bracket final.

“It feels great,” Marquis said. “Because [Fullerton] beat us in our gym, there’s no better payback than to beat them twice in the state tournament.”

Fullerton beat Long Beach, which was the top-ranked team in the state, earlier Sunday in three games to reach the final and Golden West was sluggish early in the match.

Fullerton’s Clair Lee served the first 10 points for Fullerton and the Hornets (20-4) won Game 1, 15-8.

Golden West got off to a 9-0 start in Game 2 and won, 15-5. The Rustlers took a 12-2 lead in the third game and won it, 15-7.

The score was tied, 5-5, in the fourth game before Golden West went on to a 15-6 victory.

“We just came out tight,” Gasparian said, “but getting back into that first game and scoring a few points helped us. This group is awesome. We didn’t have one problem with discipline or kids not getting along all season. To have that in 1996 is unheard of.”

Lyttle, who had 59 kills in the tournament, Bowman and setter Beth Rosen made the all tournament team for Golden West.

Fullerton’s Lee, Nadia Hoerner and Michelle Halliday also were all-tournament selections.

At the state wrestling tournament:

Ortiz repeats--Tito Ortiz, a 190-pound wrestler from Golden West, won his second consecutive state individual title late Saturday at Victor Valley College in Victorville.

Other Orange County winners were Cypress’ David Wheeler at heavyweight, Golden West’s Raphael Davis at 177 pounds and Rancho Santiago’s Alfredo Frausto at 142.

Sacramento won the team title with 95.50 points and Palomar (79) was second. Rancho Santiago (75) was third, Golden West (72) fourth and Cerritos (70) fifth.