BHS Volleyball: Senior shutdown

BARSTOW • The Barstow High School volleyball team’s seniors didn’t have much to celebrate after Tuesday night’s match.

The Aztecs (3-14; 1-10 Desert Sky League) were shutout 3-0 by Victor Valley in a match that marked the final home game of the season for the team and the final home game ever for four seniors on the varsity team.

Barstow lost 25-21, 25-20 and 25-16. Jessi Hodges, Lacey Hill, Serena Winston and Dolores Price all played their final game at the Don Bilsborough Gymnasium.  Although she was a member of the JV team, Reanna Lawson also took part in the senior night celebration that included a video recapping the season.

“It’s bittersweet,” Barstow coach Kathy O’Neil said “We’ve had a lot of fun with the girls this season and now they’re going to be done, but they’ll go on to other things.”

The Aztecs may not have earned a win in any of the three games, but they played Victor Valley closer than they did on September 29. The Jackrabbits took that match 3-0 holding Barstow to 50 total points. Barstow also lost two of those matches by double digits, something that didn’t happen on Tuesday.

“They aren’t the same team we played before,” Victor Valley coach Jackson Wong said. “They’re hitting better, making more digs and just looking better. They have a lot of youth too, so we’ll have to watch out for them in the future.”

The Jackrabbits jumped out early and took a 6-1 lead in the first game. Barstow fought back to within three points several times in the game, but were unable to close the gap. However, it was the Aztecs who struck first in the second game. Barstow led by as many as six points, but the Jackrabbits’ Raylynn Hicks earned points on five straight serves to tie the game 12-12. Hicks’ sister Rebecca picked up three kills later in the game to give Victor Valley a 21-16 lead. The Aztecs once again were unable to recover.

Barstow faltered in the third game and made several service faults. Victor Valley went ahead 7-2 and slowly built its lead. The Aztecs ended the game and the match on a ball served into the net.

“We just shut down in the third game,” O’Neil said. “I think the girls were a little frustrated because it was senior night and it was a let down.”

Barstow’s Nicole Mathews led the team with 15 digs and 12 kills.  Courtney Verrill had six kills while Hill had seven blocks. Victor Valley’s Raylynn had 21 assists, while her sister, Rebecca, had six aces and seven kills. The Jackrabbits Amanda Aguilar had eight kills and three aces.

Barstow will play at Granite Hills at a time to be announced Thursday afternoon for their final game of the season. The Aztecs, who only have one league win, are out of any playoff contention.