Gabi Cinkova helped the Lady Acorns rally in the second and third sets Wednesday, but the Notre Dame Tigers prevailed to sweep, 25-16, 25-22, 25-21. (PHOTO BY DAVID SEMINATORE.)
BELMONT -- Live Oak's objective was the same as for any team making its first Central Coast Section playoff appearance in three calendar years.
Enjoy the moment, but don't get lost in it.
With Notre Dame's countless volleyball banners staring at them for most of Wednesday's first-round Division III match in Belmont, the Lady Acorns did their best to stay focused. But Tigers Gym can be an intimidating place to play, especially when the Tigers are there.
"We looked like deer in the headlights in that first set," Live Oak coach Laura Coleman said. "We're a young team. That happens in big games like this."
The Acorns' coming-of-age poise in the final two sets was the sterling silver lining to a one-sided defeat, 25-16, 25-22, 25-21. Live Oak, which rotated seven players who will be back next year, trailed by as many as six points in games 2 and 3 before pulling off big rallies that kept the night interesting.
Down 18-11 in the second set, the Acorns scored 11 of the next 17 points to make it 24-22. In Game 3, Live Oak turned a 16-11 deficit into a modest nail-biter.
"We kept fighting and didn't think about the score," said libero Allie Unger, who totaled nine digs and three aces for the Acorns (15-15).
Notre Dame (17-21) ultimately prevailed, relying on strong points that helped the West Catholic Athletic League stalwart build big leads in each game. The Tigers exposed mismatches at the net and were uncompromising at the back line.
Gabriela Dae finished with 12 digs, and Brooke Baldwin had 10 to go with her game-high 11 kills.
"Defense and passing have been our biggest strengths," said coach Monica Marcuson, the maestro of Notre Dame's eight straight playoff appearances, plus a section championship in 2006. "We were consistent at the back and went down the line up front.
"Brooke was big everywhere."
Jenna Robertson, Live Oak's senior setter, lofted 11 of her 15 assists in Game 3, when the Acorns led by as many as three early on. She bumped in a kill that pushed Live Oak ahead 10-7, but the Tigers responded with eight consecutive points.
Ellen West, who tallied a staggering 32 assists, fed Baldwin for a spike that made it game point, 24-19. Robertson dialed Annie Reyes-Ortiz for two kills and freshman Fa Saulala for another to make it 24-21.
"We tried to go out and have fun," Robertson said. "If we didn't make so many mistakes and let them go up by so much, it might have been different. But we played well. It's a good way to go out."
The Acorns looked sharp in Game 2 but only after falling behind by an insurmountable lead. Gabi Cinkova, their 6-foot junior hitter, heated up for three of her four kills, and Saulala added two down the stretch. Unger's ace cut the deficit to 24-22.
"I was pretty calm at the line. I tried to treat it like any other game," the sophomore said. "I wanted to do my best for the older girls."
Cinkova collected three digs, two stuff blocks and two aces, Saulala had four kills and Allison Shedden four blocks for Live Oak. Reyes-Ortiz, a senior outside hitter, had five kills to lead her team.
"Annie was everywhere we needed her as usual. She and the seniors did great tonight," said Coleman, whose Acorns tied for third place in the Mount Hamilton Division. "Our younger girls really made progress tonight, too. I'm just glad we didn't tank it or give up. This was a good experience for them, a building block."
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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