Cypress Advances to Title Match

Eighth-seeded Cypress completed its improbable run to the Division II-AA girls’ volleyball championship match with a 17-15, 10-15, 8-15, 15-13, 17-15 victory over Cerritos Gahr Tuesday night.

Dusty Creager led the Centurions (15-3) with 12 digs and 36 kills, including 11 in the final game.

“It was awesome,” Creager said. “We came together as a team and showed a lot of heart.”

After a victory last week over top-seeded Mater Dei, Cypress was again the underdog against the fourth-seeded Gladiators (19-6).

Cypress trailed, 14-7, in the first game, but rallied on the strength of nine kills by Creager and 15 assists from Amanda Meixel.

Gahr’s Stephanie Pasucci and Stephanie Malesala had 10 kills apiece in the two games. Pasucci finished with 30 kills overall.

Three Cypress players recorded five or more kills in the fourth game. Meixel added two aces in the game.

The lead changed hands eight times in the fifth game. Pasucci stepped up for the Gladiators, registering 11 kills. Creager, finished the game with 13.

“Creager was tremendous,” Cypress Coach Heather Dillard said. “She’s a team leader and she got tough when we needed her.”

Meixel finished with a match-high 64 assists for the Centurions.

Pasucci had 51 assists and 21 digs for the Gladiators.

Cypress will play Santa Margarita in the final. The date and time have yet to be determined.