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Warriors end girls volleyball season 2-4

Fallbrook High School's girls volleyball team posted a 2-4 record for the 2020-21 season including a 1-3 mark in Valley League competition.

"We didn't get very many wins," said Fallbrook coach Jason Dale.

Three of the Warriors' six matches went to five games and two of them were four-set competitions. Only one of Fallbrook's losses was in three games.

"We fought so hard and we were so close," Dale said.

Fallbrook began league competition March 24 at Valley Center. A 25-21 Valley Center win in the first set was followed by 25-14, 25-17, and 25-21 Fallbrook triumphs. The Warriors had a total of 33 kills including 10 from junior Ashylnn Craven, six by sophomore Bailee Aguila, and five apiece by sophomore Annie Riley, freshman Jayda Van Alfen, and freshman Claire Nordeen.

Aguila had seven of the team's 11 serving aces and Van Alfen provided two aces. The Warriors had a total of 11 blocks with Aguila providing four solo blocks and sharing an assisted block while senior Grace Bell recorded two solo blocks. The 52 Fallbrook digs included 10 apiece by Craven and junior Michelle Pineda, nine from senior Bella Duran, eight for Nordeen, and six from Riley. The Warriors' 23 assists consisted of 14 by Riley and nine from Nordeen.

Rancho Buena Vista handed Fallbrook the three-game loss March 26 on the Longhorns' court. The scores were 25-22, 25-23, and 25-18. "In that match we were super close," Dale said.

"We had trouble completing the game," Dale said. "That will come with time and experience."

Fallbrook's home match March 30 against Mission Hills was a four-game win for the Grizzlies. The Warriors concluded play March 31 at home against Ramona.

Families were allowed inside the Fallbrook gym March 31, so the pre-game Senior Day festivity honoring Fallbrook's two seniors could be witnessed by their parents. Bell was a middle blocker and outside hitter while Duran was a defensive specialist and libero.

Ramona defeated Fallbrook in five games. "That was so fun," Dale said. "We almost had them."

The fifth set is to 15 points, and at one point the score was 9-9. Ramona finalized the Bulldogs' undefeated league season with a 15-11 victory.

"It was still a great way to finish," Dale said. "That was a fun game, fun match."

San Pasqual was also in the Valley League, although the Golden Eagles canceled their match against Fallbrook due to a positive COVID-19 test. Ramona played five Valley League matches and won the first four in three games before Fallbrook became the only Valley League team this season to take one set, let alone two, from the Bulldogs.

"I'm really encouraged," Dale said. "We're a young team."

The libero is a situational player but is considered a starter along with the players at the other six positions. Fallbrook's seven starters for 2020-21 included two freshmen and three sophomores. "We would have been the best JV team in all of San Diego County," Dale said.

Fallbrook's varsity squad consisted of two seniors, two juniors, four sophomores, and two freshmen. "There was a ton of growth," Dale said.

"I'm really encouraged for next year," Dale said. "I think those small two-point, three-point matches might fall our way and you're looking at a very different record."

Normally girls volleyball is a fall sport, but coronavirus precautions delayed the start of all CIF sports for the 2020-21 season. The CIF San Diego Section allowed girls volleyball matches to begin in the second week of March.

For many having matches was more important than the actual results. "It gives the girls a chance to play," Dale said. "It was important to get them out there."

Although Dale would prefer to win, he considers results a byproduct rather than the primary focus. "My goal is not necessarily wins or losses. It's to develop a love and passion of the game," he said.

That development took place for the 2020-21 season. "These girls I've been coaching this year were so positive," Dale said.

Because girls volleyball did not have CIF playoffs for 2020-21 the Warriors did not have a playoff berth at stake during the season. "It was sort of a fun miniature season preview of what we're going to be doing in the fall," Dale said.

To some extent the season mimicked a spring off-season league, although with actual CIF referees and with the varsity players being awarded letters. "It did have that feel to it," Dale said.

The fall 2021 season is expected to be a full season including playoffs. "They're going to be another year older, another year stronger," Dale said.

Author Bio

Joe Naiman, Writer

Joe Naiman has been writing for the Village News since 2001

 

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