2004 California Community Colleges
Commission on Athletics
Women's Volleyball Championships
Presented by the Stockton Sports Commission

(Double-elimination tournament)

Day 3, at San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, CA
Sunday, Dec. 5 Results

Game 12-South No. 3 San Diego Mesa (21-4) d. North No. 2 Taft (23-3),
30-27, 21-30, 30-23, 30-24 at Blanchard Gym
Taft is eliminated and finishes fourth at the state tourney

Recap: The Taft Cougars valiant first visit to the state championships ended with a respectable fourth place showing after falling to San Diego Mesa's Olympians in four games. Mesa combined strong blocking, serving and relentless attacking on offense to insure itself of at least a third place finish. The Olympians were led by acrobatic defense from libero Maile Adolphson, who had a match-high 24 digs, many on diving plays. On attacks, Bri Beal scored 17 kills and Melissa Ford had 14 kills. Amanda Pfielschiefter added 13 kills and five blocks, while Katie LaLicata had five kills and five blocks. Setter Jessica Endean added 50 assists, four aces, and nine digs. For Taft, Kaena Apana tallied 11 kills and a team-best 16 digs before a knee injury knocked her out of the match with Mesa leading 25-18 in the third game. The Cougars had three others in double figures for kills with Janice Fonoti tallying 16, Poasa Paepaetele 15 and nine digs, and Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 11 and also nine digs. Setter Lehua Yap, who also played with an ankle injury, had 47 assists and six kills. In the opening game, Mesa's LaLicata came up with two solo blocks to finish off the game win. In the fourth game, Ford and Beal had five kills in a 10-5 run that sealed the match victory.

Game 13-South No. 3 San Diego Mesa (22-4) d. North No. 1 San Joaquin Delta
(21-3), 25-30, 30-17, 21-30, 3-20, 15-9 at Blanchard Gym
SJ Delta is eliminated and finishes third at the state tourney

Recap: The Olympians of San Diego Mesa, the South's No. 3 seed and 8th ranked in the state surprised the No. 1 North team and tournament host Delta in a thrilling five-game elimination match that sets up a championship final between Golden West and Mesa. After going four games to end Taft's season in the morning match, Mesa seemed slow to start the Delta match in falling behind 14-2. However, the Olympians roared back to eventually cut it to 27-24 before Delta took the game. Delta would take a two games-to-one lead before Mesa again took control of game four behind the play of Bri Beal. Beal had six kills and her hitting gave Mesa a 30-20 fourth game win to send the match to a fifth game. Mesa raced to an 8-2 lead behind two kills and two aces by Beal. Delta chipped away and got it to as close as 12-7, but Beal fittingly slammed down a kill to end the game, 15-9, and end the Mustangs' season. Beal, an All-American Second Team outside hitter, proved her worth with a match-high 24 kills to go with 13 digs, four aces, three blocks and two assists. Amanda Pfielschiefter added 16 kills in just 29 attempts (.448 hitting percentage). Libero Maile Adolphson scored 22 digs, while Melissa Ford had a strong all-around match, contributing eight kills, 16 digs, and five blocks. Setter Jessica Endean totaled 57 assists and six kills. For Delta, Cindy Stayton scored 17 kills and Breanne Zelmer had 12 kills and 12 digs. Sarah Buhr was solid with 10 kills and six blocks.

Delta Coach Brad Friesen: "Mesa served and passed much better than us, and pulled us out of our offense. I could see in the first game the momentum switching away from us after we took an early big lead. We gave a valiant effort, but it all comes down to how well Mesa served and passed."

Mesa Coach Kim Lester: "We came out looking scared, and then we found our rhythm. We have prided ourselves on being disciplined on defense, and our system continues to be a strong point. Our libero Maile Adolphson turned it on especially in this match. Bri continues to be our team leader and her all out play was contagious for the rest of the team."

Recaps by Robert Lewis