Archer Loses in CIF Semifinals

The Archer School for Girls (Brentwood) concluded a magical playoff run Tuesday night, losing to Desert Christian Academy (DCA, Bermuda Dunes) in the CIF 5AA semifinals.  DCA, now 21-2 overall, will play Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) in the championship game Saturday at Cypress College, a rematch of the 2010 CIF final.  

The Conquerors from DCA brought over 100 fans from the Palm Springs area to the match, which was played before an estimated crowd of over 600 at the Crossroads School gym.  Archer finished the season with a school record 16-4 overall mark and was the first team in school history to advance to a CIF "Final Four".  

While the scorebook will show a three set win for DCA, it was Archer that took a major step forward as an school to be reckoned with in high school athletics.  

The Archer girls were clearly inspired as the gym was filled to capacity with green clad supporters, an attendance record for volleyball in the Grisanti gym.  

Archer parents and students joined alumnae, players from other teams that had jumped on the bandwagon, even a parent of Archer JV players checked himself out of the hospital early to come to the game on crutches.  What was most impressive, perhaps, was the support shown by the Archer faculty, especially the history teachers, who must have held a department meeting in the lobby.  

The team relished the opportunity to show their skills off to the teachers who are so much a part of their lives.  By the time Archer students Grace Fetterman and Kathleen Kelso belted out another first rate rendition of the national anthem, the place was buzzing with excitement.  

As Archer's official game announcer Stephanie Ferri finished off introducing the visitors and announced  "...and now lets meet your Archer Panthers..." the place erupted with support for our girls.  The staff working the gym on behalf of Crossroads told me they had never heard the place that loud.  

Archer played at its highest level of the season in the first set, and the noise from the Archer fans rocked the gym.  The girls were as intense and focused as they could be as they took a 23-20 lead over the defending champs, a team that returned every single player from its 2010 title team,  and it was pure mayhem in Grisanti.  

It looked as though our girls just might pull off the upset.  At that moment, it was clear that Archer had arrived.  And then, reality hit.  And she hit hard.  Her name was Kristen Lauer, she wears #10 and goes 5'10".  

The senior middle hitter was the she the MVP of the CIF 5AA last year as a junior, and she is the best player in the CIF 5AA this year too.  DCA scored the final five points of set one to win 25-23, then showed the crowd what a champion looks like up close with a 25-7 thrashing in set two, at one point of the game Lauer blocked three straight balls solo.  

Archer did not quit, however, and they showed great heart and desire in battling to score 19 in set three.  The best team that night won.  They played like champions and demonstrated great sportsmanship.  It was a special night of high school sports for both teams.

Archer volleyball will no doubt miss its two senior leaders, Leslie Baker and Coco Maurice.  The program will continue move forward with great promise.  The JV team compiled a 14-2 record and won the league championship, the middle school teams combined to rack up a 20-7 record this season.  

Much appreciation goes out to the legion of fans that came out and supported, and to those that texted and e mailed their support along the way.  Now it is on to the grass and hardwood surfaces, as the soccer and basketball teams start their quest for a CIF title, the games begin November 28.

Archer VB vs. VVC broadcast on Maxpreps
The CIF 5AA quarterfinal game vs. Victor Valley Christian was filmed and has been edited into a four and half minute piece available on the high school sports web site MaxPreps.  The semifinal game will be available soon on the same site.
Go to:  http://www.maxpreps.com/video/watch.aspx#!videoid=ec05c9e3-3bb5-4b21-d461-7a4d2c504805