Submitted by Coach Charles Stewart

The El Tejon Athletics department hosted a volleyball tournament at Frazier Mountain High School Saturday, Sept. 12. There were five teams each in the 6th and 8th grade divisions and four teams in the 7th grade division.

The 7th grade team opened up against Rio Bravo-Greeley School from Bakersfield and won 35-23. They then played Jacobsen Jr. High of Tehachapi and lost 18-35. In their final pool play game, they beat Lincoln Jr. High of Taft 35-28. This put them into the finals against Jacobsen where in the “2 out 3 match” they lost 12-21, won 21-20, but then lost 11-15 in the third game tie-break, to take second place to a quality team.

The team was led by the outstanding performance of Maxie Rosales at middle blocker and setter Jillian Carlson.
The 6th grade El Tejon Black team opened up by beating the El Tejon Silver team 15-10, 15-1, then they split with Rio Bravo-Greeley’s Green team 15-13 and 12-15. They lost in two to Rio Bravo-Greeley’s Orange team 14-15, 10-15, and then finished up by beating Lincoln of Taft 15-10, 15-9. This won them the second best record overall in their pool and put them into the finals against Rio Bravo-Greeley Orange.

In the first game, they won in dramatic fashion with a score of 21-20 behind the serving of Madison Stephenson and Jamie Penner who consistently and steadily served aces. They won game two 21-17, to win the match and the Championship of the 6th grade division. Lefty Delaney Bever did an awesome job of keeping the team in the game with her serving. There was strong passing from McKay Leos, Elliana Shillig and Sarah Bedard. Ali Gracey and newcomer Haylee Shanklin also offered solid play.

This is part of the September 11, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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