TEMECULA – Rancho Christian survived a heart-stopping five-set battle Tuesday night, outlasting cross-town rival Chaparral 3-2 in a match that lived up to its billing as one of the most anticipated contests of the early season.
The Eagles appeared in control early, racing to a commanding two-set advantage with wins of 27-25 and 25-19. But the Pumas refused to fold, roaring back to claim the next two sets 25-23 and 25-21 to force a decisive fifth frame.
“We knew Chaparral would fight back,” said Rancho Christian coach Caitlyn Bato after the match. “They’re a scrappy team that never gives up. We had to dig deep to finish this one.”
The final set proved to be the most dramatic of the evening. Both teams traded points in the early going, with neither squad able to establish more than a two-point lead. The score remained deadlocked at 10-10 before Rancho Christian found another gear.
Led by senior outside hitter Jessica Rodriguez, who delivered three crucial kills in the closing stretch, the Eagles went on a 5-2 run to close out the match 15-12. Rodriguez finished with 18 kills and 12 digs for the night.
“In that fifth set, we just told ourselves to trust our training,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been in these situations before, and we knew we had to stay composed.”
Chaparral junior setter Maria Santos nearly willed her team to victory with 42 assists and eight aces, while libero Ashley Chen anchored the defense with 24 digs. The Pumas’ comeback attempt fell just short, but head coach Gretchen Johnson saw plenty of positives despite the loss.
“I’m proud of how we battled back from that two-set deficit,” Johnson said. “That shows the character of this team. We’re going to learn from this and get better.”
The victory extends Rancho Christian’s winning streak to eight matches and improves their record to 10-3 on the season. The Eagles have now won their last 11 home matches dating back to last season.
For Chaparral, the narrow defeat drops them to 1-4 as they continue to work through growing pains with a young roster featuring seven underclassmen. Despite the slow start, the Pumas showed tremendous heart in their comeback bid.
The match featured several momentum swings that kept the partisan crowd on edge throughout the evening. Rancho Christian looked ready to cruise after taking the first two sets, but Chaparral’s third-set victory seemed to energize the visiting squad.
Key moments in the fourth set included a spectacular diving save by Chen that led to a crucial point, and back-to-back aces from Santos that helped the Pumas pull away late. The crowd reached fever pitch as the match headed to the fifth set.
Both teams will face challenging schedules in the coming days as they prepare for league competition. Chaparral will welcome Santiago this week for their final preseason tune-up before opening Southwestern League play with a road match against Temecula Valley on Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
The Pumas will need to build on the confidence gained from their second-half rally as they face what many consider the toughest league in the region. Temecula Valley returns most of their roster from last year’s league championship team.
Rancho Christian has two more non-league tests remaining before beginning Ivy League play. The Eagles will face Great Oak and Murrieta Mesa this week, both Southwestern League opponents, before hosting Liberty in their league opener on Sept. 10 at 5 p.m.
The Eagles will look to maintain their momentum heading into league play, where they’ll be among the favorites to capture the Ivy League title. With Rodriguez leading a talented senior class and strong depth throughout the lineup, expectations are high for another deep playoff run.
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