Regents Take Down the Cougars in 4!

GLENDORA-  The Regents dispatched Rancho Cucamonga in 4 sets, but it was not easy!  Still smarting from day two at Durango, the Regents got off to a slow start, falling behind the Cougars in set one by as many as 10 points.  Like true champions, Lucy's shook off their blues and picked up their game, closing the gap to get within striking distance.  Unfortunately, it was too little, too late, and the Cougars took the first set 25-21.

Set two began with the teams trading points.  Eryn Young vaulted the Regents to the front on a six point service streak that put the Regents up 12-7.  The Regents never lost the lead again, but just barely.  Rancho chipped away until they were trailing by just a point, 20-21.  Marissa Hageman had an answer and put the ball down in the corner to give the Regents breathing room at 22-20, then Sydney Bast served up an ace to get the Regents to set point leading 24-20.  Roni LaPierre put an end to the threat and the set with a kill for the win, 25-21 and the match was even at one set a piece.

The Regents got off to a much better start in the crucial third set, building a 10-4 lead; Vanessa Caustrita's tool of the block energizing the crowd and forcing a Cougar time out.  The Regents stretched their lead to 17-8 with a lot of hustle and heart, digging balls that looked like sure kills, covering blocks well and picking up the tip shots.  St. Lucy's ran away with set three, 25-14.

St. Lucy's could not sustain the momentum of set three, and started set four with several service errors.  Arden Davis made an amazing dig to keep the Regents from falling down 1-4.  The game was tied at 6 before St. Lucy's started to inch out a lead.  The Regents appeared to be in the driver's seat when Juliet McClure served two aces in a row and took the lead to 14-9.  McClure and Hageman hooked up to run a picture perfect slide, Mo's kill putting the Regent up 20-15.  Desiree Villajin got the final kill with a back row attack to give St. Lucy's the win 25-17.

The stat leaders were Juliet McClure with 37 assists, 12 digs and 3 aces; Vanessa Caustrita with 17 kills, Loryn Carter with 13 kills, Roni LaPierre with 12 kills and 6 digs, Arden Davis with 26 digs, Sydney Bast with 12 digs and 3 kills, Dianna Rohrer with 2 aces, 3 blocks and 4 kills and Marissa Hageman with 6 kills and 2 blocks.