Atwater clinches volleyball crown

ATWATER -- Twenty minutes after recording the Central California Conference title-clinching kill, Atwater's Nicole Heller still couldn't catch her breath.

The excitement and intensity of Atwater's five-set thriller over Buhach Colony continued to course through her veins and wasn't going to be relenting anytime soon.

"I'm pretty excited right now," Heller admitted. "We deserved this so much, because we worked so hard in practice and it's paid off.

"Winning the CCC title on Senior Night, against Buhach in five games, it all kind of stacked up on each other.

"We got down a few times, but when it mattered most we connected."

Heller played a big role in helping Atwater (11-0 CCC, 14-0) escape its crosstown rival.

The middle blocker recorded a team-high 15 kills and a match-high 12 blocks in a 25-20, 18-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13 victory over Buhach Colony on Thursday evening.

Her most important contribution to the title, however, may have been slowing down Buhach outside hitter Megan Callahan.

The reigning CCC MVP played like one, recording a match-high 34 kills and a team-high 28 digs. But the bulk of Callahan's damage came in the first three games.

"We tried three different rotations today and the girls just kept fighting through until we found one that worked," Atwater coach Toni Muratore said. "We finally got Heller on Callahan's rotation and she was able to at least slow her down."

Fatigue may have aided Atwater as well. Callahan recorded 26 of her kills in the first three games and was all over the floor trying to keep BC's slim title hopes alive.

Callahan closed out the third game with three straight kills to give BC (8-3, 10-5) a 2-1 lead.

"We knew we needed this," Callahan said. "We knew this was our last chance to stay in the title race.

"I'm not going to lie, I did get a little tired, but we had to go all out."

Atwater countered with its more balanced attack, as Joslyn Apodaca (13 kills), Jaclyn Frank (12) and Nikki Schiber (nine) all complemented Heller.

Behind the quartet's rock-solid play, and Marissa Guardado's steady passing (32 assists), Atwater raced to a 20-11 lead in the fourth game.

With Callahan stuck in the back row, Buhach needed someone else to provide a spark, and the answer came in the form of a couple underclassmen.

Sophomore Alison Sherman provided 11 kills off of the bench and freshman middle blocker Rachel Andrews added 10 kills and a team-high five blocks as BC stormed back.

Michelle Osmer's squad got as close as 24-20, before Schiber forced a fifth game with a kill.

"It's tough to come back from 10-point deficits, and we just kept spotting them big leads," Osmer said. "We had some kids step up, but as a team we were up and down all night."

Atwater took the floor for the fifth game to a standing ovation from its capacity crowd.

The extra bit of energy seemed to help, as Atwater raced to a 10-3 lead behind Keller's three kills and a block.

Buhach answered one last time, pulling within 10-9.

But Atwater wouldn't be denied.

Heller demanded the ball on match-point and started a raucous celebration with an emphatic final spike.

"We love fifth games," Guardado said. "We practice for them all the time and so we didn't get nervous.

"There was never a doubt in our minds we were winning the CCC title tonight."