Terriers take down Beaumont in five sets again, move closer to title

REDLANDS – There are still four matches left in the Citrus Belt League season but Redlands High on Thursday took a huge step toward another girls volleyball title.

The Terriers rallied for a 25-15, 22-25, 17-25, 25-21, 15-8 victory against Beaumont and then celebrated joyously in the middle of the court. After, a team photo was taken, there were no frowns seen on Terrier faces.

The contest was the Terriers’ annual Dig Pink match, honoring those affected by breast cancer. Pink is the color for breast cancer awareness.

Redlands outside hitter Jaydee Zook, a transfer from Los Osos High, was overwhelmed by the big victory.

“We had a lot of hope in our team,” she said. “Our coaches really push us to our fullest potential. Our swings, our digs, we’re just balling out here. It felt great. We’re very proud of our win.”

The teams were tied at one set apiece and knotted at 13-13 in the third set when Beaumont (11-4 overall, 4-2 CBL) went on a run. Aided by three Ally Chase kills, Beaumont outscored Redlands 10-1. The Terriers scrambled to within 24-17 but lost on a botched serve.

“I was a little worried,” veteran Redlands coach Corinne Flowers said. “I thought we played really well in the first set. But Beaumont is a solid team and they were serving well. I was concerned with my team’s demeanor. Sometimes that happens. The kids get frustrated. And I just want them to know that I trust them to do the job.”

Beaumont led the fourth set 3-0 but Kameryn Carpenter came through with a kill for Redlands. The Cougars surged to a 10-6 lead, but Redlands clawed its way back. The Terriers scored six consecutive points and took a 12-10 lead on another Carpenter kill.

Carpenter, a junior who has played at both Cajon and Redlands, pounded her 500th career kill during the match.

Beaumont rallied to take a 21-19 lead, but Redlands scored the last six points to get the victory, the last one coming on a Jocelyn McNairy block.

“I think the key was staying calm,” Flowers said. “Offensively, both teams have great hitters, and we have great defense. In sets two and three we had trouble serving and passing. And we finally picked up our serving and passing and then they started struggling.”

Beaumont coach Jessica (Granados) Lopez, the former Beaumont High and Cal State San Bernardino star, was reeling after from the emotion-filled, rollercoaster match.

“We had them at times,” Lopez said. “Volleyball is such a game of emotion. At times I thought we were going to win and then at times they were killing us. It’s so up and down. They score five, we score five, they score five, we score five. It’s like, ‘Get me off this rollercoaster.’”

Redlands led the final set 7-6 and then won five consecutive points to seize control. Poised to win at 14-8, the Terriers clinched on a violation by the Cougars.

Then it was a familiar scene, Flowers thrusting her arms in the air
and running out on the court, accompanied by her giddy bench players.

A surprise for Redlands was the play of substitute middle blocker Sophia Enzinwa, a sophomore transfer from The Grove School in Redlands. Enzinwa played some meaningful minutes and was the presence the Terriers needed in the middle.

“This was one of our most important matches and I was very glad I was able to play,” Enzinwa said. “It’s been going well. I haven’t been playing as much, but I think that I just need to try my best.”

Enzinwa averaged 2.2 kills per set last season at The Grove but mainly served as a blocker for the Terriers and put down an occasional ball.

Senior Libero Ava Reyes led Redlands with 16 digs, Zook had 12 kills, Carpenter contributed 18 kills, McNairy three blocks, and Natallia Caravia chipped in with five blocks and 21 assists. Enzinwa contributed  three kills and two blocks.

“Ava Reyes is my stud,” Flowers said. “She just broke a couple of records for the school. She’s a senior and we’re going to miss her next year. She’s been the backbone of our defense.”

Regarding Enzinwa, Flowers said, “We needed a bigger block up there and she hasn’t seen a lot of playing time, but she went in there and did it. I’m proud of her.”

Lopez was impressed by Redlands’ formidable defense which doggedly kept the Terriers in the match.

“Their defense is annoyingly relentless,” Lopez said. “Any other team on any other day in any other gym, we would have had so many more kills.”

It was a tremendous effort by Beaumont but once again a disappointing five-set loss to the Terriers.

“We’re headed in the right direction but we just haven’t gotten the job done yet,” Lopez said. “This group of seniors we’re losing this year, it makes me nauseous thinking about it.”

Chase led Beaumont with 17 kills. The Cougars also received stellar play from Kaliyah Combs, Dalani Hernandez, Wesleya Ruiz, and Hailey Rios.

Redlands has already defeated every league opponent left on its schedule – Redlands East Valley, Citrus Valley, Cajon, and Yucaipa, with only Cajon managing to win a single set against the Terriers. But Flowers is not taking a fourth consecutive league title for granted.

“I’ve been on the other end of things – we’ve upset people (in the past) who were supposed to win league, so we’re going to take every opponent seriously,” Flowers said. “But this was a big step. I’m proud of my girls.”