Landers, Fechner help Grizzlies to EYL victory

Maybe it’s time to start calling them the Comeback Kids.

The Granite Hills Grizzlies volleyball team seemed to solidify their status as such by dispatching Delano Tuesday night in four games at home.

Down by eight at 20-12 in the fourth game, Granite stormed back into the lead to clinch a 25-21 win and their fifth league victory.

“We fought back, plain and simple,” Grizzlies coach Bri Yorba said. “I’ve never seen them fight like that before. I thought we were gonna fold again.”

Notoriously known for slow starts, the Grizzlies this time seemed bent on erasing that stigma by rocking the Tigers in a pair of 25-17 wins.

Delano turned the tables, however, by altering its lineup and their attitudes at the onset of the third game. The Tigers used a spirited rally to kick-start the momentum and put a scare in the Grizzlies.

“That third and fourth game, Delano was a completely different team,” Yorba said. “They had nothing to lose and they made some changes.”

Needless to say, the Grizzlies were caught off-guard, especially when Delano’s shortest player moved to the front line and promptly recorded four kills using on unexpectedly strong spikes.

The undersized-but-quick Tigers scrapped their way to a 24-17 lead before Granite teased the crowd with a 3-0 run. Delano held on for the 25-20 win and managed to swing the momentum onto the fourth game with a 3-0 start.

Granite’s Jennifer Landers held serve six straight times, though, to make it a 6-3 game. Following a 10-minute delay when officials questioned Delano’s serving rotation, the Tigers clawed back into the lead, 10-9. And on a series of penalties by the Grizzlies, Delano built the eight-point lead that would trigger Granite’s boiling point.

“We didn’t wanna go five games with them,” Yorba said.

Landers came full-circle in the rotation and ripped off anther 5-0 run for Granite to get within 20-17, including a pair of aces. The setter served 16 times without a single error and dished 12 assists.

“Jen’s always a consistent server,” Yorba said. “She’s just one of those people on the team you can always count on.”

Nicole Rafanan, who had five kills on the night, killed a shot from the right side of the net, and when a Delano shot attempt sailed wide, Rafanan spiked a Delano setup to regain the Grizzlies’ lead, 22-21.

Vanessa Alcantar served an ace for the winning point just moments later. Alcantar, sporting a wrap around her sprained right hand, had 13 digs in her first game back after sitting out the past two.

Jessica Yocum contributed in the back row, at the net and at the service line with nine digs, two kills and two aces. 

Deanna Alamillo chipped in 10 digs and middle blocker Natalie Congdon had two kills as well. 

Sophomore middle blocker Emily Fechner notched eight kills and three blocks to lead the Grizzlies at the net.

“(Alcantar) is another one of those reliable players,” Yorba said, “so her coming back definitely helped us.”

The Grizzlies, 5-5 in league play, visit Tulare Western on Thursday before returning home Tuesday to host Porterville for the final game of the regular season.