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Hit It: Senior Amie Pfeiffer flies high for a big hit in Presentation's four-game win over St. Ignatius in the CCS Division III semifinals. But Pfeiffer's efforts weren't enough for the Panthers in the title game. Presentation lost a tough 15-13, 15-11, 6-15, 15-13 nod to Los Gatos.
Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Cats tops Panthers at CCS
Seniors Amie Pfeiffer, Lynzy Caton star, but Presentation falls in championship game
By Dick Sparrer
Lynzy Caton and Amie Pfeiffer had been there before. So the two Presentation volleyball players knew that it would take an intense effort to win another Central Coast Section championship.
But their efforts just weren't enough for the Panthers last Saturday in the finals of the CCS Division III volleyball tournament. Presentation lost a tough 15-13, 15-11, 6-15, 15-13 decision to Los Gatos to settle for second place in the section.
Caton and Pfeiffer certainly did what they could. The two senior stars each nailed 19 kills and they each had 23 digs.
But the Wildcats opened up an early lead that just proved insurmountable for the Panthers.
The loss ended an outstanding season for Presentation. The Panthers posted a 31-8 record that included a championship at the Northwest Invitational in Walla Walla, Wash., and a second-place finish at the Milpitas Spikefest earlier in the year.
But the prize Presentation was looking for was a second straight CCS title, and that eluded the Panthers last Saturday.
Los Gatos, a team Presentation had beaten 2-15, 15-12, 15-10 in the Spikefest semifinals early this season, jumped out to a quick lead with wins in the first two games of the match. The Panthers tried to mound a comeback, winning the third game 15-6. But the Cats closed out the Panthers 15-13 in the fourth game to win the match.
Caton and Pfeiffer were just two of the 12 Presentation players who were returners from the team that won the CCS Division I title just a year ago.
Also returning from that squad were seniors Kathryn Booth, Stephanie Martin, Lindsey Sanford and Julie Harris; juniors Sarah Nadler, Taylor Rayfield, Adriana LeBarron and Shannon Engle; and sophomores Dawn Stanley, Katie Turley-Molony and Paris Raissinia. Freshmen Christa Conom and Therese Vinal are newcomers to the program this fall.
The Panthers opened the season in impressive fashion, winning the championship at the Northwest Invitational. Harris knocked down eight kills to lead the Panthers to a 15-9, 15-10 win over Mead of Washington in the finals.
Pfeiffer was named the tournament's most valuable player, and Harris and Caton each won all-tourney team spots.
Presentation beat Mead twice, the first time in three games 15-8, 16-17, 15-5, on the road to the tourney title. The Panthers also posted wins over Menlo, Lake City of Idaho, Pasco of Washington and Hermiston of Oregon.
At the Spikefest, the Panthers knocked off Los Gatos 2-15, 15-12, 15-10 in the semifinals, but lost 11-15, 15-5, 15-9 to Mitty in the championship match.
Presentation ended up losing three times to the Monarchs this year, once at the Spikefest and twice in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
But with the Monarchs off playing in CCS Division I, Presentation appeared to have a path through CCS Division III. And the Panthers were following that path with easy wins over Notre Dame-Belmont and St. Ignatius. They just couldn't get past the Wildcats last Saturday.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
