Sierra Canyon Girls Volleyball Continues Impressive Season, ranked #19 in the nation
By Jacob H. Pollon
Sierra Canyon Athletics Dept.
Staff Writer
LAS VEGAS — It was another impressive week for the Sierra Canyon girls volleyball team. The Trailblazers are making it a habit.
After collecting two more Gold Coast League victories against Crossroads and Campbell Hall on back-to-back nights, the Trailblazers took their act to a town known for good shows – Las Vegas.
Sierra Canyon didn’t disappoint.
The Trailblazers improved to 29-2 overall after sweeping through its pool and advancing all the way to the Elite 8 before succumbing to powerful Marin Catholic of Kentfield (CA).
Sierra Canyon knocked off Ironwood Ridge of Arizona, St. Francis of Mountain View (No. 38 in nation) and Coronado of Nevada to earn a top ranking for Saturday’s playoff bracket.
The winning ways continued with an early morning victory against James Logan of Union City (CA) before dropping only its second match all year to Marin Catholic.
The Trailblazers – like they always do – rebounded in a big way. The girls took down mighty Assumption of Louisville, Kentucky in two sets. Assumption was the No. 1 ranked program in the country earlier this year before losing to Mater Dei nearly three weeks ago in five sets. Assumption currently sits at No. 5 in the nation, so a great win for Sierra Canyon.
“I really don’t know what to say,” Sierra Canyon coach Stefanie Wigfall said. “I am incredibly proud of the girls and what they are accomplishing. We have more work to do and bigger fish to fry. We will keep moving forward and trying to get better.”
In the two league matches before the “field trip”, Long Beach St.-bound Jaylen Jordan, rapidly rising junior setter prospect Taylor Simpson, sophomore Sidney Montgomery, junior Nala Henderson, Addison Peeler, Laina Bolton and freshmen Jaida Sione and Stormy Gorence led the way.
Simpson had six kills, 19 assists and six digs against Crossroads. Gorence led with nine kills. Sione had eight kills. Montgomery and Jordan chipped in five kills each. Peeler had four kills. Henderson and sophomore Lindsay Sobel had five and four aces, respectively. Sierra Canyon easily dispatched the Raodrunners 5, 13, 10.
Things were nearly the same against Campbell Hall in a 14, 19, 19 sweep. Jordan led with 13 kills and 11 digs, Sione had nine kills and Simpson eight. Montgomery contributed six kills, 11 digs and five aces. Simpson also tallied 32 assists and 10 digs.
Sierra Canyon continued some impressive streaks. The Trailblazers have now won 52 consecutive Gold Coast League matches and 130 consecutive sets in league while going 156-2 in sets in the last 158 played. All marks date back to October of 2015.
With four more league wins, Sierra Canyon can claim its fourth straight undefeated romp through league play.