Lady Eagles Keep Norwalk Winless In Suburban League With Sweep

By Loren Kopff

Following last Friday�s Suburban League girls volleyball match between city rivals John Glenn and Norwalk, it was clearly evident which team has eyes on a potential playoff berth and which team doesn�t. Both teams ventured into Glenn�s gymnasium 0-3 in the circuit and over an hour later, the visitors had left still winless and having been swept for the fifth straight time in non-tournament action this season.
The Lady Eagles picked up a 29-27, 25-5, 25-15 victory and avenged an upset loss to the Lady Lancers from the end of last season that cost Glenn a trip to the playoffs. Glenn has now won six of the last seven in the series and improved to 5-5 overall this season.##m:[more]##
�I�m impressed with the way we played; the intensity and the fundamentals,� said John Glenn head coach David Cruz. �I�ve been stressing that since the beginning [of the season]. Just playing the fundamentals, just playing the game and not worrying about your opponent. The score will dictate itself at the end.�
Glenn was seemingly in control in the first game, jumping out to leads of 9-2 and 13-6. But the first rally of the match for the Lancers enabled the visitors to take the lead for the first time. Sophomore setter Crystall Martinez had a pair of aces as part of a four-point swing and Norwalk led 17-16. But Glenn senior outside hitter Carla Acuna returned the favor with two aces of her own and Glenn was back in front at 19-17. Both teams would trade points down the stretch with Norwalk stopping Glenn at game point three times. Meanwhile, the Lady Lancers were at game point when senior outside hitter Jessica Hernandez put down her sixth kill off a touch. But senior outside hitter Diana Jimenez closed the game with three straight kills and after that, Norwalk lost any momentum it might have had.
�I was a little concerned in the beginning,� Cruz said. �They came out with a lot of energy. We didn�t play real smart. I wasn�t real pleased with our performance at that point.�
Norwalk (1-7 overall) trailed 5-3 in the second game when senior setter Vanessa Ochoa�s kill gave the Lady Eagles the serve and from there, senior setter Karina Rodriguez reeled off 12 consecutive points which included half a dozen aces, three kills from junior middle blocker Sharae Moten and two more from Acuna. Jimenez would finish the game two rout with three aces along with three more kills from Moten.
�She did a real good job serving,� Cruz said of Rodriguez. �She does have that nice little spin on the ball that caused a lot of problems for them.�
Serving would dominate the third game for Glenn as a slim 14-12 lead turned into a 21-12 advantage after sophomore defensive specialist Kimberly Orozco had three aces as part of her six points she served. Hernandez had a match-high 14 kills for Norwalk while junior outside hitter Jennifer Gomez added eight kills. The Lady Lancers visited Artesia this past Wednesday and will conclude the first round of league action today against defending champion La Mirada. On Monday, Norwalk will host Mayfair, followed by a road meeting with Cerritos on Wednesday.
Glenn spread the offensive wealth around with Jimenez (13 kills), Moten (11 kills), junior middle blocker Arlene Gomez (10 kills) and Acuna (seven kills). The Lady Eagles also had 17 aces as they visited Bellflower this past Wednesday and will welcome Artesia today. On Monday, Glenn will host La Mirada before going to Mayfair on Wednesday.