Regular season play ends Friday for the Metro Conference’s girls volleyball teams. The Bonita Vista Barons put a lock on this year’s Mesa League championship by sweeping the visiting Eastlake Titans on Wednesday while the Sweetwater Red Devils have this year’s South Bay League title in hand.
In front of a packed BVHS gym, the host Barons carried the momentum — and monstrous hits — throughout their 25-15, 25-17, 25-12 sweep of the arch rival Titans.
Bonita Vista improved to 9-0 in Mesa League play, 25-5 overall, in advance of Friday’s regular season finale at Hilltop. Eastlake saw its record dip to 7-2, 19-10.
“It’s so amazing to get two wins over Eastlake this season,” gushed Baron dig specialist Heather Gearhart. “Our goal this season was to finish undefeated in league and hopefully we can do that with one more win at Hilltop on Friday.”
Bonita Vista entered Wednesday’s match ranked second among the San Diego Section’s Division II teams, sixth overall in the section and ninth in the state in its division.
For those still keeping track, the Barons entered the week ranked 156th in the nation.
While it’s been an all-around team effort this season, individual standouts continue to be Jenelle Hudson, Meagan Wright, Allie Loitz, Taimane Napoleon and Gearhart.
Hudson had 17 kills in Wednesday’s game while Loitz recorded five blocks, Wright had four aces and Napoleon had 24 assists.
Hudson entered Wednesday’s marquee contest with 310 kills, 46 aces, 219 digs and 350 assists to her credit this year while Loitz had accumulated 249 kills and 181 digs. Wright had 209 kills and 179 digs while Gearhart had 40 aces and 473 digs. Napoleon also ranked among the team leaders with 375 assists.
Gearhart attributes the team’s success to its internal foundation. “We’ve come together as a team, as a unit,” she said. “All the hard work we put in during practices shows on the court in our games.”
Eastlake responded with several spirited rallies but the visitors could not sustain any long-term momentum.
Season kill leaders include Brenna Bailey, Alexa Vargas and Allison Abels while Chelsea Speaks ranked as one of the top players in the Metro Conference with 754 assists. Rachel Cuizon ranks among the EHS team leaders in digs.
The Titans entered the week ranked sixth among Division I teams and will be vying against such teams as top-ranked Torrey Pines, second-ranked Rancho Buena Vista and third-ranked Poway for supremacy in the upcoming playoffs. Scripps Ranch and Patrick Henry entered the week ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in the division.
The Barons feel their season is by no means finished yet.
The San Diego Section playoffs tip off Tuesday, Nov. 8. Bonita Vista is favored to grab one of the top Division II seeds.
The next goal for the Barons?
“We’d like to get to the CIF championship game,” Gearhart said.
South Bay League
Sweetwater improved to 11-0 in South Bay League play following last Friday’s 3-0 sweep of west side rival Chula Vista. The Red Devils captured the series 25-15, 25-7, 25-23 behind 22 kills and 16 digs by Kimberly Gutierrez and 25 assists from Edna Gudino.
SuHi (16-9 overall) closes out regular season play Friday at San Ysidro.
Gutierrez has racked up some impressive numbers this season: 465 kills, 80 aces and 367 digs.
Gudino has 63 aces, 192 digs and 479 assists while teammate Jessica Flores has 195 digs.
