The Culver Volleyball Club 16-year-olds, coached by Tanner Siegal, came out of the loser’s bracket and avenged a loss to an Oregon team to win the 8th annual Summer Soiree Volleyball Tournament in Anaheim, 25-19, 25-22.
Six Culver City teams, ranging in ages from 12 to 18, entered. By the end of the week, though, only the 16-year-olds survived in the 64 team field.
16-Tanner was put in the losers bracket by Spitfire Volleyball Club from Oregon. Culver went on to win the rest of its games against undefeated teams to win the crown.
After losing to Oregon, Culver topped eighth-seeded Oaks VBC. They went on to upset No. 1 seed Surfside from Hermosa Beach, 25-20, 25-27, 15-9.
“It was a great team victory,” Coach Siegal said. “We had all kinds of momentum going forward.”
Culver City next defeated No. 5 seed Laule’a from Hawaii, 25-27, 25-20, 15-12 to reach the championship match against Oregon Spitfire.
Culver and Spitfire played excellent side-out volleyball, according to Siegal, but Culver felt the momentum and took the title.
16-Tanner was led by Culver City High School junior standout Jessica Stewart. Complementing Stewart was sophomore Centaur setter Megan Shimoda, Centaur middle blockers Octacia Collins and Destiny Padilla, Culver libero Halen Anderson, Notre Dame High School middle blocker Lauren Hechinger, Notre Dame outside hitter Gloria Dominguez, and El Segundo High School outside hitter and libero Kylie Glickman. Unable to play because of injury was outside hitter Thalia Rakosky, who plays at Pacific Christian.
Siegal recently was named Culver City High School varsity volleyball coach. Eriko Gambol is his assistant.
For more information about the Culver Volleyball Club, go to www.culvervolleyballclub.com
Mr. Cohen, Mr. Culver City, may be contacted at mrculvercity@ca.rr.com
