Bell-Jeff falls short of CIF final

BURBANK— The Bellarmine-Jefferson High had a tough task ahead of it if the Guards hoped to advance to a CIF Southern Section championship match for the second consecutive year.

In a semifinal match Tuesday, they had to take on a Hemet team that was ranked No. 1 in Division IVAA and had just two losses this season. To make matters more difficult, Bell-Jeff had to take on a Bulldogs team on their home turf.

Despite its high expectations, Bell-Jeff wasn’t able to topple talented Hemet, losing, 25-16, 25-11, 25-14.

“[Hemet] was a good team, no doubt about that,” Bell-Jeff Coach Miguel Segura said. “But we didn’t pass the ball very well and they really naturalized us to where we couldn’t do what we usually do,”

Jacelyn Cervantes had 11 kills, Taryn Nelson added seven kills and Daniela Gonzales had 24 assists for the Guards.

Hemet (21-2), which has swept all four of its playoff matches, won a championship in the Mountain Pass League

The loss ends another successful season for the Guards (17-7), who won their fifth-straight Santa Cruz League championship.

Last season, Bell-Jeff lost to No. 1-seeded Upland Christian Academy, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23, in the Division VA championship contest. It was the local program’s first trip to a title match.

“We learned a lot in the last week and a half or so,” Segura said. “We have a good group coming back next year, and we should get right back at it.”

BURBANK— The Bellarmine-Jefferson High had a tough task ahead of it if the Guards hoped to advance to a CIF Southern Section championship match for the second consecutive year.
In a semifinal match Tuesday, they had to take on a Hemet team that was ranked No. 1 in Division IVAA and had just two losses this season. To make matters more difficult, Bell-Jeff had to take on a Bulldogs team on their home turf.
Despite its high expectations, Bell-Jeff wasn’t able to topple talented Hemet, losing, 25-16, 25-11, 25-14.
“[Hemet] was a good team, no doubt about that,” Bell-Jeff Coach Miguel Segura said. “But we didn’t pass the ball very well and they really naturalized us to where we couldn’t do what we usually do,”
Jacelyn Cervantes had 11 kills, Taryn Nelson added seven kills and Daniela Gonzales had 24 assists for the Guards.
Hemet (21-2), which has swept all four of its playoff matches, won a championship in the Mountain Pass League
The loss ends another successful season for the Guards (17-7), who won their fifth-straight Santa Cruz League championship.
Last season, Bell-Jeff lost to No. 1-seeded Upland Christian Academy, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23, in the Division VA championship contest. It was the local ¿¿¿program’s first trip to a title match.
“We learned a lot in the last week and a half or so,” Segura said. “We have a good group coming back next year, and we should get right back at it.”