Mysterious Matchup

Porterville High School and Exeter High School are separated by less than 20 miles.

Judging by the degree that each volleyball program knows the other, you might guess they were counties apart.

Despite the schools’ close proximity to one another, these teams are not rivals, not even close.

This sets up a unique semifinal duel where each team is going in blind.

Panthers coach Kayla Trueblood and Monarchs coach Alanna Montgomery each acknowledge they have not seen their opponent first-hand. Both are relying solely on reports and reputations.

Montgomery does think it’s a bit strange that the two Orange Belt schools have no recent history.

“It is unusual that we don’t know each other,” Montgomery said. “But unless we play them in preseason or see them in a tournament, we just wouldn’t see each other and that’s what’s happened.”

Exeter and Porterville (No. 4 seed) used to meet twice a year when the schools were EYL foes, but have not played each other since 2001.

Montgomery’s team was undefeated in league play that year and her current group carries the same mark into tonight’s game.

The No. 1-seeded Monarchs completed CSL play at 12-0 and are riding an 18-game win streak. 

While many teams use a star player or two to carry them on such a run, Exeter’s key to success has been balance.

“Other coaches that I’ve talked to told me they are a really deep team,” Trueblood said. “If somebody’s having a bad day, they have other girls that can step up.”

Rarely does a Monarch reach double digits in kills, in part because of the team’s depth and because Exeter’s matches rarely go beyond three games.

Senior Kendra Amann usually finds herself near the top of the Monarchs’ offensive stat sheets, but their most consistent player might be libero Sabina Lopez. Lopez is a near certainty to sport a match-high in digs. She had more than 70 in a match this season.

This is an area where Trueblood feels her team can match Division III’s No. 1 team, as she relies on her libero for leadership.

“We have such a solid libero in Noelle Garcia,” she said. “When she’s on, it affects the whole team. She’s the key back there. She’s not overly vocal or bossy, but when she talks, they listen to her.”

Offensively, four-seeded Porterville does have a couple of players it relies heavily on in senior hitters Alex Shew and Paige Vanasen.

Montgomery realizes her team’s on a remarkable run right now, but her central message to them has been to not get complacent and play every game like the season is at stake — which is actually the case this time.

“I told the girls (Monday) this could be your last practice if you don’t play well and make this happen,” she said. “I suppose if the shoe was on the other foot and we were playing a team on a streak, I’d be a little intimidated, but I try and never let them (her players) have the mindset that we’re going to keep winning. We’re going to have to play well to keep winning.”

Instead of being intimidated by the surging Monarchs, the Panthers are looking at the rare encounter as a potential confidence jolt.

“We’re excited to get a chance to play the No. 1 team,” Trueblood said. “We’re thinking if we can beat them in the semis, maybe we can take this whole thing. To win, we’ll have to be on 100 percent and I think that’s a good possibility.”