SAN DIEGO – Chula Vista Eastlake faced little resistance during its run to the program’s first CIF-San Diego Section indoor girls volleyball title in the fall.
But the top-seeded Titans demonstrated on multiple occasions during their pursuit of the program’s first Division 2 beach volleyball championship that they were more than willing to go the distance in order to make history once again.
Eastlake emerged victorious in two thrilling three-set battles against No. 7 Canyon Crest Academy, helping the Titans prevail by a 4-1 margin Saturday in a battle of first-time finalists at San Diego Mesa College.
Although junior Kaycee Papa and freshman Presley Ruperto clinched the title for Eastlake (15-9) with a 21-17, 21-18 triumph against Enke Luo and Camila Fogliani at the No. 4 pairing, it was three-set wins by Noelle Barcas and Kenidee Wax in the No. 2 showdown, as well as Daniella Garcia and Melissa Wegenka in the No. 3 matchup that were crucial for the Titans.
Chula Vista Eastlake girls beach volleyball wins first CIF-San Diego Section Division 2 title after capturing Division 1 indoor crown in November | Photo courtesy of Eastlake
Eastlake didn’t drop a set in four postseason matches to capture the Division 1 indoor championship in November.
But the Titans were challenged right away in the Division 2 beach volleyball playoffs, avoiding a first-round upset by holding off Sage Creek by a 3-2 margin.
Such a significant test wound up benefiting Eastlake the rest of the way, as the Titans dropped only two of 15 combined head-to-head matchups in their final three postseason contests.
Alyssandra Macias, a sophomore, and freshman teammate Brooke Hidalgo gave Eastlake the early advantage with a 21-14, 21-9 victory at the No. 5 pairing against Dina Sam and Natalia Fogliani.
Chula Vista Eastlake secured its first CIF-San Diego Section Division 2 beach volleyball title | Erik Boal photo
Barcas and Wax nearly overcame an eight-point deficit late in the opening set against Canyon Crest Academy’s Lee Elbaz and Kai Minna-Choe, but still rallied for a 22-24, 22-20, 15-13 triumph to secure a 2-0 lead following the first rotation.
Barcas and Wax, who battled back after trailing 20-12 in the opening set, also regrouped following a four-point deficit midway through the second to extend Elbaz and Minna-Choe to a deciding third set.
Canyon Crest Academy (10-8) achieved its only point when Jenny Li and Emily Hsu prevailed at the No. 1 pairing with a 21-17, 21-11 triumph against Eastlake seniors Elizabeth Heath and Leila Reynante.
Canyon Crest Academy earns runner-up in CIF-San Diego Section Division 2 girls beach volleyball final | Erik Boal photo
But Papa and Ruperto responded shortly thereafter with Eastlake’s third point to secure the crown, before Garcia and Wegenka showcased the longest final match in Division 2 championship history against Canyon Crest Academy’s Ava Countouriotis and Livia Hollingsworth Spiehler.
Garcia and Wegenka executed well in clutch situations in the first and third sets and emerged victorious by a 23-21, 16-21, 16-14 margin to punctuate the title for the Titans.
Eastlake’s first beach volleyball title was perhaps even more impressive than its indoor championship since senior Ivanna Rivera-Vargas, a Stanford commit and member of the Mexican national team pool, didn’t compete for the Titans during the spring.