Valhalla, down 0-2, shocks Foothillers

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: August 21, 2024

Valhalla, for the first time in five years, rallies from 0-2 down to claim a dramatic victory.

2024 EAST COUNTY GIRLS PREP VOLLEYBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

Valhalla setter Cassie Douma

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – The Valhalla Norsemen overcame a particularly rough start and straight their ship, scoring a stunning five-set victory over the Grossmont Foothillers in Tuesday’s (Aug. 21) Grossmont Conference girls volleyball match.

The Norsemen, trailing two games to none, showed some life late in the second set, then rolled to capture the final three sets to claim a 15-25, 24-26, 25-23, 26-24, 15-10 triumph.

The rally from two games down was a first for the Norsemen in five seasons. The last tie came early in the 10`9 campaign, overcoming a slow start to down Francis Parker, 26-28, 18-25, 2522, 25-18, 15-12, on on Sept. 17, 2019, to down the Lancers.

Valhalla (1-1 overall) handed the Hillers the first set with eight service errors and seven other balls which failed to clear the net.

Set Two was better after trailing 23-17. The Norsemen then scored 6-of–7 points, including four straight to force extended play (“overtime”).

However, when the serves started to find the target and the back row limited their errors count to keep the force alive, more and more rallies went to Orange Nation to convert the rally.

Senior outside hitter Paige Clark, who saw the libero start for her in the back row, led the offense with 11 kills. Meanwhile, junior Paige Clark added 10 spikes for points.

Among the underclassman, sophomore Giavanna Meram — a left-hander — finished with a 50 percent spiking percentage as a left-side hitter, which caused some havoc with Grossmont’s blockers.

A trio of Norsemen — Jordann Bollens, Taryn Cleary and Cassie Douma — each posted six aces, Conversely, after making 10 services errors in the first two sets, the Orange only has one other net serve the rest of the way.

Douma also registered 35 assists.

Statistics for Grossmont (also 1-1) were not posted at press time.

Valhalla is off for the rest of the week. They return to action next Thursday (Aug. 29) at Christian.

Grossmont, which downed Montgomery in its opener. is home this Thursday (Aug. 22) against Lincoln.

Steele Canyon 3, Foothills Christian 0 – The Steele Canyon Cougars were pushed to the brink in all three sets, yet came through at the end for a 25-23, 29-27, 26-24 non-league triumph over the visiting Foothills Christian Knights.

All other action was not reported by midnight.