NORCO — Etiwanda girls volleyball coach Savannah Flores called 2023 a rebuilding year for the program.
A week into the 2024 campaign, and it appears the Eagles have the pieces to return to championship form.
Strong serving, a balanced offensive attack and the floor leadership of senior setter Brooke Hansen were keys to victory Saturday as Etiwanda claimed the title at Norco High School’s Mountain View Invitational.
The event featured five Inland teams playing a series of round-robin, best-of-three matches throughout the day. Etiwanda went unbeaten, scoring victories over Arrowhead Christian Academy (25-6, 25-15), Redlands (25-14, 28-26), defending champ Norco (25-12, 23-25, 15-8) and Aquinas (25-21, 25-15) to capture the championship.
“We were young last season, so we have a lot of depth and experience coming back this season,” Flores said. “I think chemistry and trust between everyone is a big factor this year. There is a confidence no matter what lineup is out there.”
Etiwanda (5-0) played Saturday’s matches without junior outside hitter Nina Hemsley, so Flores often tinkered with her lineup. One big adjustment was moving sophomore middle blocker Saaliyah Brown over to outside hitter.
“She doesn’t have a lot of experience on the left side, but she stepped up and played great today,” Flores said of Brown, who transferred to Etiwanda after a strong freshman campaign at Summit.
Many observers believed the winner of the Etiwanda-Redlands match ultimately would claim the championship.
Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Furnald served up a pair of aces to give Etiwanda the advantage during the opening stages of the first set. And that was a sign of things to come. The Eagles were clinging to a 10-8 lead but pieced together an 11-4 run to take command. Brown had three kills during that key run, while Furnald and junior right-side hitter Mya Yaisrael added two kills apiece. Freshman Janae Childs ended the set with an ace.
The second set featured 12 tied scores and three lead changes. Seniors Saniyah Sobers and Devi’arre Lucas hammered away on the pins to give Redlands an early advantage. The Terriers led by as many as four points, but Etiwanda surged in front, thanks in large part to serving (seven aces in the second set). Childs had three aces in the frame, giving her five in the match.
Redlands staved off four match points before Hansen and senior middle blocker Kelis Hawkins combined for block to close things out.
“We just never lost our confidence in that set,” said Hansen, the Cal Poly-bound setter who was selected the MVP of the event.
Etiwanda used an 11-3 run to grab control of the first set against Norco. Hansen spread the ball around to her hitters in the opening frame, with Brown, Furnald, Yaisrael and Hawkins combining for 12 kills on 20 attempts.
The Eagles appeared on their way to another sweep after grabbing a 14-10 lead in the second set. But Norco battled back and went on a 13-2 run. Senior outside hitter Savannah Smith had three kills and two aces for the Cougars in that stretch. Etiwanda fought off four set points, but a service error gave that second set to Norco.
Brown had the hot hand for Etiwanda in the decisive set, putting the ball down to the floor on all three swings to spearhead a 10-3 run by the Eagles. And Furnald’s ninth kill of the match was the final touch on another victory.
“I think we just brought back the same energy and mentality we had in that first set,” said Furnald, who joined Hansen on the all-tournament team. “We knew we had to have a sense of urgency, and we played like we should play.”
MOUNTAIN VIEW INVITATIONAL RESULTS
Final standings
1. Etiwanda 4-0
2. Redlands 3-1
3. Norco 2-2
4. Arrowhead Christian Academy 1-3
5. Aquinas 0-4
Match scores
Etiwanda def. Arrowhead Christian 25-6, 25-15
Redlands def. Aquinas 25-10, 25-8
Etiwanda def. Redlands 25-14, 28-26
Norco def. Aquinas 20-25, 25-20, 15-7
Redlands def. Norco 25-21, 25-18
Arrowhead Christian def. Aquinas 25-14, 16-25, 15-2
Etiwanda def. Norco 25-12, 23-25, 15-8
Redlands def. Arrowhead Christian 25-15, 25-9
Etiwanda def. Aquinas 25-21, 25-15
Norco def. Arrowhead Christian 25-15, 25-18
