LIONS ADVANCE TO FIRST EVER CIF-SS TITLE MATCH: The fourth time proved to be the historical charm for the @jserra.beachvolleyball team, as the Lions advanced to the program`s first ever CIF-SS Division 1 championship match with a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Redondo Union Sea Hawks in a Division 1 semifinals match on Wednesday at the Hermosa Beach Volleyball Courts in Hermosa Beach.
JSerra had lost to Redondo Union by a one point in the semifinals round in each of the last three seasons, but the Lions opened the match with a huge spark in the first rotation of matches.
Seniors Skylar Noble and Presley Johnson surged to an opening set win of 21-15 before dropping their second set by a score of 19-21.
The Lions duo trailed 2-9 in the third and final set, but Noble and Johnson dug deep and unleashed a stirring comeback, which resulted in a 15-13 set win.
Seniors Catherine Beadles and Charlotte Nowak dropped their opening set by a score of 19-21, but fought back to win set two 21-18 and the deciding third set by a score of 15-10, putting the Lions just one point away from victory.
Redondo Union battled back to start the second round match rotations, claiming victories at Line 1 and Line 3, to tie the overall match score at 2-2.
Juniors Sarah Thorp and Lyla Gerstenberger fell in their opening set 17-21, but roared back with a 21-12 set two triumph to set up a third set battle to determine the overall match winner.
With the score tied at 7-7, Gerstenberger produced a clutch over-the-shoulder scoring volley that put the duo ahead to stay, and they finished out a 15-12 win that clinched the Lions first ever trip to the CIF-SS championship match.
JSerra (17-2) will battle the Mira Costa Mustangs on Saturday in the CIF-SS Division 1 Championship Match at Long Beach City College in Long Beach.
Match-time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
#lionnation #jserrabeachvolleyball #jserraathletics
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