Bishop Diego fell short against Long Beach Poly in a five-set epic battle for the CIF-SS Division 3 girls volleyball championship on Saturday at Cerritos College.
Long Beach Poly pulled out a 25-27 25-22, 16-25, 25-14, 15-12 win for its first title since 2010.
Bishop Diego was seeking its sixth title in school history and second in four years. The Cardinals won a Division 7 title in 2021.
Senior Nicole Schuetz led the Cardinals’ attack with 19 kills on a .292 hitting percentage and 10 digs. Senior Eliana Urzua had a double-double of 17 kills and 19 digs, and served four aces. Setter Karina Urzua picked up 10 digs and dished out 38 assists and served four aces.
Cedra Saolotoga-Talaga led three Poly players in double figure kills with 14. She also was a force on defense with 15 digs.
This is the match update.
First Set
Bishop Diego rallies from a 6-1 deficit and wins the first set 27-25. Eliana Urzua puts the final point away off a set from Nicole Schuetz.
The Cardinals overcame a controversial call while leading 23-22. Official ruled a long serve that short-hoped off of a Bishop player standing behind the end line was touched before hitting the floor. That gave Poly the tying point (23-23).
The Jackrabbits took a 24-23 lead, but Bishop battled back to win the set 27-25.
Second Set
Long Beach Poly comes up with two spectacular plays to win Set 2, 25-22.
After a thundering block from Sophie Otte to bring Bishop to within one (23-22), Poly middle Layla Moore connects on a shoot set from Hannah Ballangay for a side out. On the next play, libero Sydney Mercado lays out to pick up a tip by Nicole Schuetz and middle Kristen Dear puts the ball away to even the match at 1-1.
Third Set
Eliana Urzua serves three straight aces to give Bishop Diego a 25-16 win and a 2-1 lead in the match. The Cardinals outscored Poly 9-1 down the stretch after the teams were tied 15-15. Earlier, Poly’s Sydney Mercado served three straight aces to rally the Jackrabbits from a 14-11 deficit.
Fourth Set
We’re going 5. Long Beach Poly used tough serving and its tough middle attack to dominate the fourth set, 25-14, and push the championship match to a deciding fifth set.
Tough serving from Cedar Saolotoga-Talaga and Lauren Foster sparked big point runs by the Jackrabbits.
Bishop Diego never led in the set and fell behind 14-6 after a 6-0 run by Poly.
The gym is rocking.
