Five sets, 38 ties, 15 lead changes.
When the dust settled Tuesday night, No. 15 Chico headed back north with a thrilling 25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13 victory over second-seeded host Ripon in the first round of the California Interscholastic Federation Division IV Regional Championships.
The loss for the Indians (23-10) comes on the heels of Saturday’s four-set win over top-seeded Sonora for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship.
“I guess the high from Saturday didn’t trickle over like we thought it would,” Indians coach Casey Kresge said. “Our goal was to win the match, but we didn’t have that starting energy like we normally do. And then one of our starting middles (Makenzie Loechler) gets injured, and we had to move Kailee Inderbitzin into the middle where she had not played all year.
“So, between not coming in with energy and Makenzie getting hurt, that really challenged us. Regardless, I think we fought hard. I’m so proud. We are working hard and fighting. This was a great run and I am proud of them. Winning the Section finals was amazing for this team, and even though the state playoffs didn’t end up like we wanted to, the girls should still leave the season feeling proud.”
The Panthers (22-19) came out on the attack in the first game which they won with 11 kills before dropping the second set behind just eight kills.
“We play well in the first set against everybody,” Chico coach Chas Konopka said. “We’re a young team with just four returning seniors from last year. The rest are all juniors, sophomores and freshmen.
“We are learning how to win this year. We’re young and this experience is great. and I think this is only the second time in school history we have got a state win so we’re excited. We’re super excited.”
Eden Velasco (13 digs, two aces) was one of the heroes Saturday for Ripon when she fired a match-ending ace. She helped get the Indians their first win Tuesday in the second set when, like on Saturday, she ended the second set with an ace.
“I just have to be ready to go all the way to the line,” Velasco said of the range she needs to get digs.
Danika Matuska led the Indians with 13 kills along with three digs and an ace.
“It’s really important when you have a setter who knows where to place you,” Matuska said. “And you have to read where the blockers and passers are on the other side of the net.
“When the setters get you a fast ball and the blockers aren’t up, you really have just an open court. The setters really run the whole play for you.”
Ripon’s Reagan Wilkerson (11 digs, five kills, block) dished out 23 assists and Kaya Whittaker chipped in 18 assists.
“The passes to me were so good,” Wilkerson said. “I just had to do my job and put the ball up there for the hitters.
Kylee Fullmer added nine kills for the Indians, Aver McKiernan had eight kills and a block and Katherine Eskes five kills, two digs and a block.
Chico will head south again on Thursday to Angels Camp and face No. 10 Bret Harte which was swept in the SJS Division V finals by Ripon Christian.
