By Jimmy Friery
SARATOGA, CA – Olivia Medina and Ashley Rossi finished as 3C2A State Pairs runner-up on Saturday, concluding their phenomenal season.
After finishing 2nd in their pool behind San Diego Mesa's Jager/Gomez, the Vaqs duo were lined up with Ventura's Rojelio/Swain in the round of 16. Likely the most-played matchup of the whole tournament, it was the third time the pairs competed against each other. Previously, Medina/Rossi won 21-13, 21-15 in the regular season, 21-16, 19-7 in the WSC Pairs final, and via forfeit in the SoCal Pairs Regional final.
Thus, it was a tough matchup for the Ventura pair, who had an unlucky reward for winning their pool. Medina/Rossi moved on to the quarterfinals by a 21-13, 21-12 victory.
Next, Fresno's Edwardson/VanGronigen, the North #3 seed, were due up. SBCC's top pair won in two quick sets, 21-10, 21-16.
The North #5 awaited in the semis, the third match of the day for both teams. The Vaqueros prevailed once again, defeating Feather River's Cogburn/Martins in three grueling sets, 21-15, 19-21, 15-10.
Now into the State championship match, Medina/Rossi saw another familiar foe on the other side of the net—Mesa's Jager/Gomez. The final two remaining pairs had come out of the same pool, and were now slated with a rematch of even bigger stakes. Mesa had won 21-12, 21-17 in the first match of pool play.
The seventh match in two days for both pairs, it was a battle of attrition. After 39 points, Medina/Rossi came away with a first-set win, 21-18.
Set two was equally as taxing, with the Vaqueros on the losing end with the same score, 18-21. A tiebreaking race to 15 would decide the State crown.
Unfortunately, Jager/Gomez had enough left in the tank to pull away, winning the set, match, and 3C2A title, 15-8.
Medina/Rossi can hold their heads high, earning just about every accolade attainable at this level. The duo can etch State Pairs finalist in their plaque that already included WSC Pairs champs, WSC Pair of the Year, SoCal Pairs Regional champs, and AVCA Top Flight award winners.
They end with a 35-3 record, advancing the second farthest in the State Pairs tournament of any SBCC pair in the program's young history (Crabbe/Lemoine State champs, 2022). It will not be the last time they play together, either, as the Oak Ridge High School teammates are both headed to Concordia University-Irvine in the fall.
The inspiring legacy Olivia and Ashley leave on SBCC Beach Volleyball is unmeasurable, competing at the highest level always with great attitudes, communication, and work ethic. Their accomplishments are further proof that student-athletes can achieve massive success in the Vaqueros Beach Volleyball program. In just 4 full seasons of the program—Ariana Garner's 3rd as head coach—SBCC now has two top-2 State Pairs finishes.
