In the first round of Central Coast Section playoffs, the sixth-seeded Palo Alto girls’ volleyball team (26-10) defeated 11th seed Lynbrook (18-9) Nov. 7th in the Paly gym. This was a match of the Vikings against the Vikings, but Palo Alto proved to be the much stronger team.
“We really wanted to get through the first round of CCS so we knew we had to come out strong,” Paly senior Abbie Havern said.
Paly was victorious in three games, winning all by a margin of at least 13 points.
“Lynbrook was a good team, but we just wanted to win more than they did,” Paly junior Eliza Stevens said.
Palo Alto was the first to put points on the board with a hit from junior Daniella Florant that Lynbrook was not able to handle. Both teams battled back and forth to a 7-6 score. Junior Ally Whitson delivered a powerful kill giving Paly a two-point advantage, and setting the home team on an 8-1 run. After a long rally, Palo Alto sophomore Marissa Florant came through with a hit right down the middle of the Lynbrook defense. Paly took the first game, 25-12.
“This week our team’s main focus was to play good defense and as a team,” Havern said.
The beginning of the second game was very close as both teams traded missed serves. Lynbrook took a 7-6 lead, but it only lasted for a short while. Palo Alto picked up the energy and took control of the game. With good team play Paly went on to dominate Lynbrook and was capped-off by a cross-court spike by senior Hillary Ford, closing the game, 25-12.
“This was officially our last home game and was it really important that we got a good start to CCS,” senior Hillary Ford said.
Paly opened up the third game with a score of 6-0. Lynbrook rallied to get on the board. A diving save by Palo Alto senior Euna Oh barely missed the net, giving the Lynbrook Vikings another point. That would be the main highlight of Lynbrook’s night as it tried to fend off the end of its season. Junior Eliza Stevens came in and gave Paly three consecutive scores, with a combination of skilled tips and kills. Palo Alto junior Helene Zahoundis also added to the mix with a nice hit, and the shut the door on Lynbrook, 25-10.
“I’m really happy we won this game, and I know our next game will be a lot harder,” Ford said. “St. Francis is one of the best teams in our section.”
Palo Alto advances to the next round and faces No. 3 seed St. Francis, Saturday Nov. 10.
This will be a tough road for the Palo Alto girls, because the CCS Division II is noted to be the toughest of all the divisions, and includes Archbishop Mitty (26-3) and Presentation (27-8).