Archer Volleyball Advances to CIS-SS Sweet 16

The Archer School for Girls varsity volleyball team advanced to the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS) 4A single elimination playoffs with a three set victory over Bishop High School (Bishop) at Santa Monica College Tuesday night.

Archer plays Vistamar of El Segundo on Thursday at Dana Middle School in Hawthorne at 6 p.m. The Archer Athletic Department is encouraging their fan base to wear green Thursday and come out strong in support of the girls. If Archer is able to win Thursday, they would advance to the CIF 4A quarterfinals, where they would most likely face the #1 seeded Pacifica Christian team of Santa Monica. That game would be played Saturday, 5 p.m. at Crossroads School in Santa Monica.

The Bishop Broncos made a 266 mile trip south to Santa Monica for the opening round game. With Bronco all-league standout junior Brooke Callahan leading the way, Bishop held close in the first set at 15-16 before Archer caught fire as senior DS Marian Maile served up nine straight balls to close out the first set, 25-15. Maile would finish the match with a career best nine aces.

Archer did not look back, as junior middle Maia Barnett led the offensive attack with ten kills on the night, including a couple of thunderous slide hits that brought the Archer faithful to their feet in appreciation. Archer would win set two 25-14 and closed out the match on senior Katie Moray's serve in set three, 25-18.  Senior setter Elle Keoghan recorded 21 assists and senior All-CIF libero Lindsay Levesque scooped up 19 digs, both match highs, as Archer ran their overall record to 15-6, Bishop finished the season at 13-9.

The victory was the first volleyball playoff win for Archer in CIF Division 4, the team having been moved up based on the success of last years volleyball team that finished 16-5 and advanced to the semifinals of the CIF 5AA playoffs.

Archer was the designated host team Tuesday by virtue of a 9-1 division record that won the Delphic league. A late arriving Archer crowd enjoyed the full court set up at the Pavilion on the SMC campus.

Thursday's round of 16 second round playoff promises to be a highly competitive game. Archer and Vistamar met for a non league game on Sept. 19, Archer winning a close match, 3-1. Vistamar, located in El Segundo, has strong roster of players from the talent rich South Bay of Los Angeles. The Vikings are 17-6 overall, won the Coastal league championship and eliminated last years CIF 5AA champion Desert Christian Academy in their opening round win.

Vistamar is led by Emma Beech, a senior, who has notched a team high 48 kills on the season, and junior Nikko Occampo. Occampo tallied ten kills and two blocks in the Viking first round playoff win.