Exeter dominates Tehachapi, takes 5th title in 7 years

Most boxing matches begin tentatively, with each fighter striking a jab here and there, feeling one another out.

Rarely does one ever reveal their full repertoire in the first few punches, but that’s exactly what top-seeded Exeter’s volleyball team did Thursday night when it came out swinging — and landing — kill after kill like they were uppercuts and right crosses.

The result was a first game played to near-perfection and a 25-4 win from which No. 3 Tehachapi could never fully recover. The Monarchs went in for the kill (figuratively, this time) and swept the Warriors, 3-0, to claim their fifth Central Valley Championship in seven years.

This year was extra special, however, since Exeter, for the first time, beat a crowded field of Division III standouts as opposed to the Division IV punching bag they were used to.

According to Exeter senior Taylor Fahrni, “That’s mind-boggling.”

“We were a little nervous (about playing Div. III opponents), but then we started beating them and we were like, ‘Oh! Maybe we can do this!’”

Little doubt was left in spectators’ minds that the Monarchs were capable of winning after they jumped out to a 10-0 start behind several perfectly orchestrated rallies that featured back-sets from Kathryn Hutcheson to Kendra Amann, Jessica Runyon and Brooke Oliva.

“I kept looking at the scoreboard and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is amazing!’” Fahrni said of their run.

Hutcheson’s dump shot that landed just outside the mark gave the Warriors their first point, but Exeter continued the roll when Oliva — starting in place of middle blocker Amanda Monge, who was out due to illness — and Fahrni combined for three blocks to control the net.

“Losing (Monge) was heartbreaking but we knew we still had to play like a team,” said Fahrni, who finished with six kills. “One of those blocks was for her.”

Senior outside hitter Evan Dillon attributed the fast start to their pre-game pep talk that was more of an “Oprah” moment than a pep rally.

“We expressed to each other how much this game meant to us and we realized this could be the last game for a lot of us,” said Dillon, who recorded eight kills and 12 digs.

Added Exeter coach Alana Montgomery, “It was quiet time. I made them all talk about how they felt about the game. I told them, ‘You’ve gotta jump out right from the beginning and show ‘em who’s gonna dominate.”

The dazed Warriors seemed to collect themselves in the second game, but still dropped a 25-15 decision to the Monarchs.

“We saw (Tehachapi’s) record, we saw their stats and they looked impressive,” Montgomery said. “I thought they would be more competitive.”

Though the third game finished in the same score of 25-15, it was much more competitive as both squads went toe-to-toe and tied up at nine points. Montgomery called a timeout to help the girls regroup.

“We said in the huddle, ‘Does anyone here wanna go five games?’” Dillon said. “And we were like, ‘No, let’s finish it now.’”

From that point on, the Monarchs began playing a form of synchronized volleyball that silenced the Warriors fans. For every Monarch that went up for a kill, two others made swan dives, including one in which Dillon skipped a Hutcheson set and allowed Fahrni to follow in behind her for the easy kill.

“I try my best to get the ball to all the hitters,” said Hutcheson, who had 12 assists, second to teammate Sharon Grim’s 15. “We have a lot of great hitters, so it makes my job easy.”

By gaining their championship status, Exeter earned an automatic berth into the state playoffs and await the seedings this weekend. 

“I’m so proud of them,” Montgomery said. “3-0 in the Valley finals. That’s pretty sweet.”