Rustlers Sweep Santa Rosa, Advance To State Championship Game

Fullerton, Calif. - Golden West set up an All-South championship final by sweeping NorCal 2 seed Santa Rosa. The Rustlers, who made it into the state tournament after a five-year absence, can finish no lower than state runner-up as they take on two-time defending state champ Los Angeles Pierce in the 3:30 p.m. final. The Bear Cubs (27-4) take third place at the state tourney after back-to-back state runner-up appearances in 2010 and 2011.

Golden West won the opening set despite hitting just .049 (14 kills, 12 errors). Santa Rosa would outhit the Rustlers, .206 to .157 overall, and outblock them, 9-8, but GWC controlled the pace of the match with strong passing, serving and defense. OH Alicia Utke led the way with 11 kills, 13 digs and four blocks while OH Alyssa Hubbard powered 13 kills. Setter Jade Gray continued a superb tournament with 39 assists, eight digs, two kills and an ace. OH Saelina Dunn added nine kills (.304), five digs, three aces and two blocks while All-Region MB Bethanee Boggs had eight kills, seven digs, and four blocks. 

For Santa Rosa, OH Olivia Urban hit nine kills and made five blocks. OH Kristyn Casalino added nine kills and three blocks while OH Kaitlin Dunaway had six kills and 12 digs. MB Luisa McInnis made seven kills and two blocks. Setter Kiana Cassidy came off the bench for 22 assists and six digs in the last two sets after teammate setter Allison Copp had played four straight to start the day (three in the win over Fresno City).   In the opening set, the teams traded blows with 12 ties and six lead changes. Santa Rosa took a 14-12 lead, but Golden West eventually took a 20-19 lead on a kill by Dunn. The Bear Cubs went ahead 22-20, but the Rustlers roared back on five straight points capped by a Dunn ace to take the set.

In set 2, Golden West used a 12-6 spurt to take a 15-10 lead. Utke and Boggs combined a block to put it at set point 24-19 before Santa Rosa cut it to 24-22. Hubbard used a rolling sideline hit to pick up the set-point kill and a 2-0 games lead.

Santa Rosa again tried to establish itself, taking a 14-10 lead in the third set. Golden West would soar on a 14-6 run as Dunn's ace put her team at match point, 24-20. The Bear Cubs refused to quit, scoring five consecutive points and taking a brief 25-24 lead on a Casalino solo block. But the Rustlers closed out the sweep after two Santa Rosa errors were followed by a finesse kill by Hubbard.