'Pups swept in SoCals

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- For the second straight year, a trip to Southern California has ended the season for Hanford High School's girls volleyball team. Southern Section Division II-A champion La Canada defeated the Bullpups in three games Tuesday night, 25-17, 25-14, 25-12, in the first round of the Southern California Regional Division II playoffs.

Hanford, the No. 7 seed in the regional, ends the season with a 21-11 mark after winning the West Yosemite League title and finishing second in the Central Section playoffs to Garces Memorial (Bakersfield).

"They served us really tough and we didn't pass the ball well, which made kills hard to come by," said Hanford coach Dwayne Wibeto. "Still, it was a successful season. There were a couple of matches where I wish we could have played better, but we made it to state for the second year in a row."

The Spartans (29-6), the No. 2 seed in SoCals, advanced past the first round in state play for the first time in school history and play at top-seed Redlands East Valley on Saturday.

La Canada scored 20 of the last 30 points contested in the third game to seal the verdict.

Cecilia Agraz led Hanford with six kills and seven digs. Tess Gilkey had eight digs. Erin Emmett had five kills. Erica Mazon added four blocks and Shelby Bennett had 15 assists.

"We swung hard at them, but defensively, they were a lot better than a lot of teams we've played," Wibeto said.

Last year, the Bullpups were swept by Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) in the first round of the Division III tourney.

(Nov. 26, 2008)