Yucaipa comeback holds off Ganesha in boys' volleyball playoffs

In the second game both teams traded scores and were tied at 12-12, before The Thunderbirds began slowly pulling away for the win. And they seemed to be riding that momentum into the third game by racing to a 5-0 lead on the serving strength of Tim Mazza. But Ganesha didn't quit and snatched an 11-10 lead and had Yucaipa reeling by leading 23-19.

But back came the Thunderbirds. A Garrison block pulled Yucaipa even at 23-23, and a Giant's hit over the sidelines had Yucaipa poised to put the Giants away. But after Garrison scored on a tip into an open spot on the court, Ganesha scored to pull out the 26-24 win.

"It was kind of my fault, I made too many substitutions," Diliberto said. "I was trying to get everybody in the game."

Both teams went back-and-forth in game four and were tied at 8-8 before Ganesha outscored Yucaipa, 8-2, to take a 16-10 lead.

However, a team effort led to a Yucaipa comeback. Garrison had two key kill shots and Barham brought the Thunderbirds even at 19-19 with two aces off his high-velocity power serve. Strong defensive play at the net figured in as well, along with Ellery Buck's kill shot that brought a roar from the fans as the game went to 20-20.

Both teams traded points and were tied again at 24-24 on a Ganesha hit at the net that deflected off Yucaipa defenders over the sideline. But that was Ganesha's last run. Yucaipa setter Cole Hauso, who finished with 25 assists, deftly tapped the ball into an open spot in the backcourt to bring the Thunderbirds within one point of victory. And a Ganesha hit out of bounds gave Yucaipa the match, and set off a round of fist-pumping, jubilant celebration.

" I thought we played well," Diliberto said. "Casey played really good in that last game and came on when we needed him."

Garrison, who also started on the varsity basketball team, has played volleyball for four years. He defined the match as coming down to two very good defensive teams and inspired play on both sides.

"Our intensity and our team play was good," he said. "Today our passing was good, our sets were good, and we were able to switch around our sets. We (Ganesha and Yucaipa) kept hitting at each other, but the ball either got blocked or tipped. Some of their saves were like impossible.

"When we play as a team, that's our biggest strength."

Yucaipa will play again on Tuesday either at home or away depending upon who won in their bracket, or a coin flip.

SCOREBOARD: Yucaipa 3, Ganesha 1; 26-24, 25-19, 24-26, 26-24. Garrett Barham 20 kills, 8 ace serves, 17 digs; Ellery Buck 13 kills; Casey Garrison 9 kills; Ryan Saucedo 8 kills, 3 blocks; Seth Hafner 15 digs; Tyler McDaniel 12 digs, 22 assists; Cole Hauso 25 assists.