Crystal Springs Uplands (Hillsborough) libero
Bianca Sladewski was the right girl at the right time for Gryphons on Friday in their CIF Division V volleyball final against
Oceanside.
The junior was on fire from the service line in her team's 17-25, 25-23, 25-13, 16-25, 15-11 five-set thriller over the Pirates. She tallied 10 aces for the match, two short of the all-time CIF mark and tied for second.
"Serving is one thing that we can really take control of," she said. "We take time to get composed and practice pressure serving to make sure we're prepared for these big moments."
Crystal lost the first and fourth sets as Oceanside hitters
Feagaiga Naotala and
Mikayla Poumele-Flores hit confidently down the line and through the blocks. Naotala finished with a match-high 24 kills and Poumele Flores added 11.
"We switched from an angle block to blocking that line, shifting our defense more neutral," Gryphons coach Chelby Spray said.
The switch worked and allowed her squad to staunch the Pirates attack and counterattack with 16 kills from
Gabby Tomatis and 10 from
Ellie Lee.
Libero Bianca Sladewski had 10 aces in Crystal Springs Uplands' five-set win over Oceanside on Friday in the CIF Division 5 championship at Santiago Canyon College. (Photo: Ralph Thompson)
And when Crystal Springs Uplands took the fourth set 25-16, it found Sladewski back on the service line tied at 2 in the race to 15 in the fifth set.
She reeled off 10 straight service points, including a pair of aces.
"Self confidence on the back line is key," she said, adding she wasn't sure how many points in a row she served. "I don't like to count because it can get in your head."
And by the time Oceanside got a sideout, the Gryphons had built an 11-3 edge.
"(Her serving was) definitely key," Spray said. "It was key in the third as well. We talked about location over perfection."
