SANTA ANA – The difference between a high school athlete who is a junior and one who is a senior often is confidence.
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The juniors on Foothill’s girls volleyball team were tentative at some of the crucial moments Wednesday when the Knights played Valley Christian of Cerritos in a CIF Southern Section Division 3 quarterfinal playoff match.
Valley Christian senior Tessa Dobmeier was calm, confident and on the attack in every situation.
Dobmeier had 32 kills to lead Valley Christian to a five-set win, 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 15-11.
The Defenders (24-8) will play at home against Newbury Park (31-9) in the semifinals Saturday. The CIF-SS finals are Nov. 6 and 7.
Foothill finished the season with a 28-6 record. The Knights won the Freeway League championship with an 8-0 league record.
The Knights’ top two attackers are juniors, Alana Jackson and June Stringham, so Foothill should be strong again in 2027.
Dobmeier, a 6-foot outside hitter who is committed to Liberty University, credited the team’s setters for getting the ball to her in prime scoring areas.
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“Thanks to our setters,” she said. “When they give me great sets it’s so easy for me to find open spots. And our coaches were really good at telling us where they (Foothill players) were going to be.”
Foothill made five hitting errors in the fifth set. Stringham delivered a couple of successful kills and Emily Gumbrecht got a point with a fine block at the net, but the Knights could not keep pace with Valley Christian’s attack.
Valley Christian coach Stacy Bannon, who played college volleyball at Pepperdine, is in her third season as the Defenders’ coach.
“If you knew her personality off the court,” Bannon said of Dobmeier, “you’d worry that she wouldn’t have that focus because she’s a fun-loving, silly kid. But on the court, she has more gifts than any player I’ve seen. She wants the the ball, she knows what to do, and she’s an elite athlete.”
Dobmeier was impressed by Foothill.
“They’re a great team,” she said. “They’re very similar to our team. They’re very deep.”
Valley Christian got some big contributions from a freshman, too. Opposite hitter Scarlett McGuyre had 11 kills.
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