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MURRIETA — If there’s one thing the Murrieta Valley and Ontario Christian girls volleyball teams have in common at the moment, it’s that they’ve played a lot of deciding-set matches early in the season.
Going into Tuesday’s nonleague match, the two sides had combined to play in six matches which required a tiebreaking set.
After the first set, it seemed as if another match that went the distance would be unlikely. However, that’s exactly what happened. Ontario Christian could not hold on to a one-set advantage, as Murrieta Valley rallied for a 25-13, 24-26, 24-26, 27-25, 15-12 win.
Miley Thunstrom led Murrieta Valley with 23 kills and two aces, while Ryleigh Short added 19 kills with three aces.
“We needed a match like this,” Murrieta Valley coach Ann Romero-Parks said. “I have a ton of respect for (Ontario Christian coach) Paige (Liebhart) and that Ontario Christian program. They made us really fight for this one, and it really reminded me of a Southwestern League match. We don’t do anything though without the leadership of seniors like Miley and Ryleigh.”
Murrieta Valley led 8-4 early in the first set after Maya Keller put an overpass down for a kill. After an Ontario Christian block tied the score, Murrieta Valley went on a 7-0 run to take a 15-8 lead. Thunstrom had a pair of aces, while Summer Tukua added two kills. An ace by the Nighthawks ended the set.
Two kills and an ace from Short along with two kills from Thunstrom gave Murrieta Valley a set point in the second. Crystal Briggs’ kill on setter dump plus a kill from Josslyn Jacks helped Ontario Christian stave off two set points, and an attacking error by the Nighthawks forced extra points. Sophia Deocales’ ace gave Ontario Christian set point, and another Murrieta Valley hitting error tied the match.
Dakota Zieman had six kills and an ace as Ontario Christian took a 14-13 lead in the third set. Tukua’s ace and kills from Thunstrom and Short kept the set tied. However, Sabri Johnson gave Ontario Christian a 2-1 lead with a kill and a joust win.
Ontario Christian led as late as 24-23 in the fourth set but couldn’t put the match away. Tukua had a kill and a block, while Thunstrom added a kill down the stretch for Murrieta Valley to force a decisive set.
“Playing teams like we’ve played so far this year has really forced this team to come together and fight for wins,” Thunstrom said. “It’s a fight we’ll need all year because every team we face is going to push us, especially when we get to league play.”
In the fifth set, Ontario Christian jumped out to an early 6-2 lead after an ace by Jacks, a solo block by Johnson and a kill by Ginger Stickler Stencel. Murrieta Valley rallied, with Short recording four kills in a seven-point stretch to give the Nighthawks a 9-6 lead. Johnson had two kills to help Ontario Christian draw even, but Thunstrom had the final two kills for Murrieta Valley.
“I think we’ve surprised ourselves a bit so far,” Ontario Christian coach Paige Liebhart said. “What’s impressed me so far is just how gritty this group is, but the scary thing is I don’t think we’ve yet realized just how good we can be.”
Tukua finished with 12 kills, an ace and a block for Murrieta Valley. Jacks had 12 kills, a block and two aces for Ontario Christian.
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Courtesy : https://www.pressenterprise.com/2024/08/28/murrieta-valley-girls-volleyball-team-outlasts-ontario-christian-in-thrilling-five-setter/