It’s a first for Sage Hill

sh girls’ volleyball gamerThe Lightning’s five-game victory over St. Margaret’s puts them in line to capture at least a share of the Academy League title.SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO -- Cat Dailey had a match-high 20 kills -- mostly at opportune times -- as the Sage Hill School girls’ volleyball team defeated host St. Margaret’s for the first time ever, 25-15, 25-15, 19-25, 19-25, 15-11, Tuesday night in a key Academy League match.

The victory puts the Lightning (12-1, 8-1 in league), ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division IV-A, in a tie for first in league with the Tartans, ranked No. I in CIF Division IV-A.If the teams finish the regular season in a first-place tie, as expected, they share the Academy League title, but a coin flip will determine who goes into the playoffs as the first-place team. It would mark Sage Hill’s first-ever Academy League title.

But first things first. This was a victory to savor for the Lightning. It marked the team’s first win in 10 tries against St. Margaret’s.

“It’s awesome,” Dailey said. “We knew we could do it, but we knew it would take our best -- that was our best game of the season.”

There are several reasons why Sage Hill was able to defeat St. Margaret’s for the first time, but none bigger than the contributions of Dailey.

The 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter has been Sage Hill’s go-to girl all season, and Tuesday was no different. Dailey had four kills in the fifth game, including the match-winner off a pass from Kelsey Lawler (44 assists).

“She wouldn’t let us lose,” Sage Hill Coach Dan Thomassen said. “She puts the team on her shoulders when we have to win.”

Sage Hill excelled in different areas during match. In the first game, six service aces -- including four by Vista Murphy -- sparked the Lightning’s victory. In the second game, Dailey got hot. She tallied six kills, including the game-winner -- with authority.

Sage Hill came out flat in the third game, but rallied toward the end. Murphy served for seven straight points to pull the Lightning to within 21-18, but it was the Tartans’ game.

Middle blockers Haywood Wright and Tierney Danner were strong at the net in the third and fourth games, combining for 10 blocks, but it wasn’t enough to clinch the victory before the fifth game .

“I think we got a little careless with our serving, then St. Margaret’s got the momentum and started digging better and some of their hitters got hot,” Thomassen said.

Danner and Lawler opened the fifth game by combining on a block which fell for a point. A Dailey kill, a Murphy ace and a Wright kill gave Sage Hill a 4-0 lead. The Lightning never trailed.

“We just went back to basics in game five,” Dailey said. “And that got it done.”

Sage Hill plays at Whitney on Thursday. A victory guarantees the Lightning are share of the league title and a shot at a No. 1 seed in the CIF Division IV-A playoffs.20051102761KGO5INo Caption20051102ipb6h6knPHOTOS BY MARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Sage Hill’s Cat Dailey (7) tips the ball over the block of St. Margaret’s Jaclyn Mason (18) in the first game of Tuesday’s match. 20051102ipb6hzkn(LA)Sage Hill’s Haywood Wright (11) hits over the block of St. Margaret’s Jill Brunswick in the second game.