BHS Volleyball: Aztecs fend off pesky Royals

BARSTOW • The Victor Valley Christian volleyball team got as close to winning the match as possible without winning an actual game Thursday evening at the Don Bilsborough Gymnasium.

Barstow High School was able to land key points in each game fending off the Royals. The Aztecs defeated Victor Valley Christian in straight games 27-25, 25-20, 25-17.

“Our own intensity kept us in the game,” Barstow O’Neill said. We rely on the leaders of this team when we are down,”

Trailing 13-9 in the first game Aztec players were hitting the net, and watching serves fall in bounds early on. O’Neill called a timeout, and the Aztecs never looked back. Freshmen Shekinah Toloumu took the first serve coming out of the timeout. She landed the first of what would be her five aces in game one leading her team back into the game. A few costly Aztecs’ errors late in game one allowed the Royals back from a nine pont lead.

Courtney Verrill landed two kills in a row helping Barstow take game one 27-25.

“Inconsistent,” said Royals coach Shelley Morgan, describing her team’s play. “We had the lead the lead, lost the lead. Eventually Barstow prevailed.”

The Aztecs streaked through the next two games, never really allowing the Royals to get back into the match.
Three times throughout the match Barstow led by as many as eight points, including a nine-point lead in game three that the Aztecs almost lost. Royal’s sophomore Cassie Morris led her team with eight kills including three late in game three during the Victor Valley Christian rally. The Aztec’s lead was trimmed down 24-17. Toloumu stepped up once again landing her seventh ace of the match leading all players. The Aztecs took game three 25-17.

“My players played well, we just couldn’t finish,” Morgan said.

Trailing in game two the Royals fought back tying the game 16-16. It was the seventh tie in the match. Aztec Senior Jessi Hodges landed three aces in a row followed by Nicole Matthews three aces in a row after a Royal time-out. Lacey Hill chipped in with an ace leading the Aztecs to a 25-20 win in game two.

“We are getting better and better everyday we practice, and after every game we play,” O’Neill said.
The Aztecs look to continue their winning ways away to rival Victor Valley Tuesday.