Vaqueros sweep Cuesta for third straight WSC title

SBCC built solid leads in each set on Wednesday and went on to sweep Cuesta 25-18, 25-13, 25-15 on Sophomore Night to secure its third straight WSC North women's volleyball title at the Sports Pavilion.

Katelynn Womack had 11 kills and hit .333 for 12th-ranked Santa Barbara, which finishes the regular season with records of 20-5 overall and 11-1 in the WSC. It was the fifth straight win and 16th in 17 matches for the Vaqueros, who are 7-2 at home this year.

SBCC led 15-10 in the first set, 13-6 in the second and 14-7 in the third.

"We played with a lot of composure, our passing was on and our serving was on," said coach Ed Gover. "We had a great temperament tonight. We were relaxed and focused. We came out with determination and it showed on the court."

It was the third straight WSC North crown and fifth in six years for the Vaqueros, who've won 14 championships in their history dating back to 1977. It's also the fourth time that Gover has reached 20 wins in a season in his 24-year career. His best seasons came in 1999 (state runner-up) and 2009 when the Vaqueros went 21-3.

Middle blocker Taylor Badois had eight kills and freshman outside hitter Alissa La Rocca added six. Madelon Leiphardt collected three kills, eight digs and 30 assists. Eryn Young had nine digs and two aces as did Tristen Thompson.

"We played really well, it was fun knowing that it the last home game for the sophomores," said Badois, a 5-11 sophomore from Maui, Hawaii. "It was good to get the sophomores who usually don't start into the game. And it was great to see us play together as a team.

"I'm so happy we won the title outright rather than having to share it."
 
SBCC broke open an 11-10 score in the first set with a 7-1 run. They jumped in front 13-6 in Set 2 and extended it to 20-13 when Leiphardt slammed an overpass for a kill. The Vaqueros were ahead 10-7 in the third set when they went on a 7-2 run, capped by an ace from Young and a kill by Womack.

Sophomore Alexandra Tuleja came in to set in latter portions of the second and third sets.

"It was really nice to get all the players in and in different positions," said Gover. "To see Olenka (Tuleja's nickname) setting was good for us. Jane (Petricka's) serving was on and that was great to see."

Gover said he was happy to see his team's hard work and effort rewarded with a third straight conference title.

"At the beginning of the year, if you told me we'd win a conference title with two freshmen on the outside, a freshman on the pins and a freshman in the middle and we'd win a conference title, I wouldn't have believed it," Gover said. "It's just nice to have them work so hard and get this as a reward."

Gover said he feels like his team will get a home match for the Southern Cal Regional playoff opener on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The pairings will be announced on Sunday.