By Ed Piper
Towering sophomore Leyla Blackwell provided key blocks at her middle hitter-blocker position, and enhanced-leaper Monaghan Cromeans supplied firepower from her left hitting spot, but it wasn't enough as La Jolla gave way before CIF power La Costa Canyon in the two teams' season opener on La Jolla's home court, 3-1, Wed., Aug. 23.
The high point for second-year coach Kelly Drobeck's Vikings was their victory in the second game of the match, 25-20, to knot the game count at 1-1. But then the Mavericks, behind 6'3" junior Morgan Lewis, pulled away to sweep the last two games.
A good crowd for both sides in the La Jolla gym, especially considering the fact that fall classes haven't started yet, saw Vikings Abby LaGrange and Torrey Coan both force their wills on the outcome from the left spot at the net in game two. La Jolla moved out to a 15-10 lead, after dropping the opening game, then 22-16 with Cromeans serving well before closing the game out by five.
Blackwell, at 6'3" already a varsity veteran of one season before her sophomore year in school has begun, recorded a kill for 24-20. She showed confidence and enthusiasm under control, encouraging her teammates in addition to her effective individual play.
In the first game, which the red and black lost, the Vikings took an early 3-0 lead with senior Inger Shelton serving. But then LCC came back for advantages at 18-12 and 20-13, despite authoritative kills by Coan and Blackwell, and finally won 25-21.
In the third game, La Jolla led 7-6. Sub Dana Waldburger, a Cal commit in beach volleyball to play alongside her sister there, had a nice kill to tie at 6-6. But then LCC squeaked out a 25-23 triumph, the straw that broke the camel's back.
La Jolla, on the whole, looked good, had discipline, and showed themselves well against a talented team. Drobeck had to have seen plenty of positives in the opening outing.
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