In a word, the CIF Division IV volleyball final on Saturday at Santiago Canyon College was … dynamite.
Glendale, which has the unique mascot the Dynamiters, beat
Marin Academy (San Rafael) in the DIV final 25-17, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19 to capture the school's first volleyball title.
The Dynamiters' victory was their 33rd straight, a streak that was a result from falling to their rival Crescenta Valley in September.
"We had a long talk after that match about how to fix our team and they took it to heart," coach Marji Keyfauver said.
On Saturday, Glendale used its power rather than finesse to overcome a sluggish start by both teams in the first set.
"We did a fine job of staying steady and the goal was to have the mind of a goldfish," Keyfauver said in reference to the "Ted Lasso" quote.
Junior hitter
Aleina Manaois led the way for the Dynamiters with 28 kills and 29 digs while freshman
Eileen Herrera added 17 kills and 23 digs. Libero
Arianna Vargas added 20 digs.
Aleina Manaois had 28 kills on Saturday as Glendale won the CIF Division IV volleyball title in four sets over Marin Academy. (Photo: Kevin Deadwylier)
Nothing epitomized Glendale's fight on Saturday more than a second-set exchange in which the Dynamiters had bodies spilled all over the floor. Somehow they managed to keep the ball alive, right themselves and find Manaois who hammered one of her eight second-set kills and Glendale led 24-22.
Manaois' serve on the next point wouldn't be returned and Glendale took a 2-0 lead.
Marin Academy answered back in the third set with great blocking and five kills from Muriel Harris in the middle to take the set 25-18 and stay alive.
But the Glendale attack was just too potent as Manaois pounded nine kills and Hererra hammered six while her hitting mate was in the back row during the fourth set. And when a Marin Academy attack went long and the Dynamiters grabbed the 25-19 fourth-set victory, they rushed the floor in celebration.
