Santa Fe wins CIF State first-round match over Poly, 3-0
Santa Fe High School girls volleyball team celebrates a winning point in a CIF-SS State first-round match against Poly of Sunland. Pictured (from left) is Jasmine Montiel, Elizabeth Beltran, Alyjah Castaneda and Monique Cardona. The Chiefs defeated Poly, 3-0, in the match. (Photo by Paul Wise)
SUN VALLEY – Santa Fe High School girls volleyball coach Gay Brokenbough has been here before – the CIF-State Playoffs.
And now, she has guided the Santa Fe Chiefs girls team to not only their first state appearance, but a win.
Brokenbough coached the Whitney girls team to a state playoff third-round in 1996 and now the Chiefs have reached that plateau.
Santa Fe, which lost in the CIF-Southern Section Division 7 Semifinals, has extended its season with a 3-0 sweep over host Poly of Sun Valley Tuesday (November 8) in a CIF State Division IV first round match.
The Chiefs (26-13) took on Palisades (32-10) Thursday in a second-round match. (Results not available at press time.)
Santa Fe, which won three CIF titles in the 70’s, won by scores of 25- 18, 25-21, 25-22 over Poly.
Leading the way for Santa Fe was sophomore outside hitter Elizabeth Beltran with a match-high 10 kills, while sophomore outside Camya Bottorff had eight. Bottorff also had two digs and a block.
With eight kills was senior setter Alyjah Castaneda, who also had 13 assists, eight digs, three service aces and two blocks. Sophomore Abigail Cetina led with 15 assists, 12 digs and three aces. Senior libero Monique Cardona had eight digs, four assists and two aces.
“They played great (Tuesday),” Brokenbough said. “After having a week and a half off, I was a little worried.
Many players were sick last week and missed practice.
“It’s harder now because we’re playing teams with no common opponent,” she said. “We have great serving, a great defense and passing.”
At the net for Poly (21-7), there was not a lot of attacking. In fact, very little.
“They had four kills I think and the scouting report that I got said if they didn’t have the perfect ball they weren’t going to hit,” added Brokenbough.
Poly, which finished second in the East Valley League and lost in the CIF-City Section Open Division, first-round game, didn’t attempt many kills and the Chiefs totaled 31 as a team.
Their biggest kill was in the second point of the first set.
With the Parrots leading, 1-0, junior middle blocker Hannah Lising had a big kill for the 2-0 lead. That was about it for Poly on the big attacks at the net, as Santa Fe went on a 10-4 run to lead, 10-6.
In that run, Beltran and Castaneda had two kills each.
“Just being able to qualify for state was great,” Castaneda said. “I feel great and very confident going into our next match.
“I’m just grateful that we are able to play more and be able to play together, especially the seniors because it’s our last year.
Included in that run was the serving by freshman Emma Borquez, who was serving when the Chiefs scored five consecutive points.
“I’m like, really excited and shaking,” said Borquez, as we stood outside in the pouring rain after the match. “It’s really great and all the girls contribute evenly and I’m just glad that I get to do my part.
“It was really great to know that we were going to state, because I honestly thought we were done (after the semifinal loss). When we were told that we were going to state, I was so excited.”
Trailing, 10-6, Poly outscored Santa Fe, 4-3, to get the closest in the opening set, 13-10.
Santa Fe put the set away with another, 10-4 run to lead late, 23-14.
The Chiefs nearly let the set get away, as Poly made a small run and took advantage of a couple Chiefs errors.
However, leading 23-18, a Poly net error and a service ace by Cetina, put the set away, 25-18 for the 1-0 lead.
An early lead by the Chiefs, leading 13-7, gave them the momentum in the second set, but again the Parrots closed the gap and trailed late, 19-16.
For the second consecutive set, Beltran and Castaneda had kills, sandwiched by a service ace from Cetina for the 23-16 lead.
Bottorff put the second set away with a kill to win, 25-21
The third and final set was closer, as there were eight ties.
After the teams were tied, 15-15, Santa Fe never trailed the rest of the way.
Bottorff, perhaps, made a big statement with a monstrous kill to give Santa Fe a 16-15 lead as they would never look back.
“That one was so good,” said Bottorff, of the big point. “I was frustrated because I wasn’t getting set as much as I normally do. And when I did get the opportunity, they were kind of like lob hits, and they were making me mad.”
On the 10th and last kill by Beltran, the Chiefs took a three-point, 22-19 lead and stayed even the final few points before Castaneda ended the match with a kill to send them to the second round.
“My kills are more strategic, as I’m always looking around the court to see if there are any open spots,” Beltran said. “Coach always says, ‘you don’t have to hit it hard, just find an open spot.’
“It’s so amazing to be in state. It’s so amazing and exciting, because although we didn’t win CIF, I’m just very proud of this team and how they just worked so hard.”