Aragon outlasts SHP in 5-set thriller for 1st win of season

“I just told them to stay focused and stay hungry, and they were able to do that,” Aragon head coach Kelsey Stiles said. “They fought back the entire time.”

With the Dons (1-2 overall) looking for their first win of the year, they took the first two sets against a SHP team that has made a case for being considered one of the elite teams throughout San Mateo County through its first eight matches. And the Gators (6-2) showed why Wednesday, recovering from the two-set deficit to force a Game 5.

But Aragon senior middle blocker Lilli Tuivailala — whose older brother Sam was recalled to the Major Leagues earlier this week as a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals — showed big brother isn’t the only one in the family with a dynamo arm, as Tuivailala owned the fifth set with four of her 14 match kills to carry the Dons to their first win.

Through two losses to start the season, Aragon played a couple of heavy hitters, most recently dropping a four-setter Tuesday night at St. Ignatius. But Stiles has a promising and balanced team that will look to make some noise in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division this year.

“They’ve been up to every challenge,” Stiles said. “They played a tough match [Tuesday] night and they were able to come back today.”

Fourth-year varsity setter Regan Castillo showed off Aragon’s diverse offense Wednesday, totaling 38 assists and working seamlessly with senior outside hitter Melanie Moore, who notched a team-high 16 kills. Moore is a converted middle blocker who Stiles wanted on the court at all times this season. And the senior’s back-row play proved a valuable weapon early as three of her five kills in the opening set were from the pipe.

“We want her on the floor all the time,” Stiles said. “She’s a senior now, she’s a leader … and she brings a lot of energy to the floor.”

Aragon’s serving dominance in Game 1 set the tone, as the Dons totaled six aces in the set, including back-to-back aces by Castillo to open the match. By Game 2, however, SHP made strides in its serve receive, which provoked a heated battle that was just getting warmed up in the second set.

In Game 2, the score was tied at eight different junctures, and as late as 19-19. But having to play scrappy seemed to tire Gators at times, and they committed 12 unforced errors in the set as Aragon outscored them 6-2 to close it out.

SHP junior outside hitter Cate Desler is fast becoming one of the best all-around players in the county and showed her stuff with a match-high 17 kills. But it was SHP senior middle blocker Natalie Zimits who helped turn the tide in Game 3. Zimits totaled 15 kills and four blocks in the match.

Then in Game 4, Desler and Zimits paired for their best all-around performance as each totaled five kills in the set, with Zimits tabbing two blocks.

The Gators trailed 14-11 in Game 4, but Zimits won a joust at net to send Samara Phillips to the service line. And the senior went off, scoring seven straight service points to put the Gators in command. Zimits tallied two kills and a block during the run, and earned her final kill of the set to force game point.

But Game 5 saw Aragon come out on fire, sparked by the play of Tuivailala at middle net. She scored three early kills to help the Dons to a 6-1 lead, punctuating each of the points with an intense show of emotion that seemed to carry over to her teammates.

“It brings us up,” Castillo said. “Everything about here … she’s just loud and goofy and it just picks everyone up. [Moore] does too. They’re both great.”

But SHP closed the deficit late. Down 11-5, the Gators got two big kills from Desler before Zimits fired a kill off middle to tie it 13-13. For the Gators, the comeback was a matter of settling into system.

“We talked about calming down and not worrying about the nerves,” Zimits said. “We just needed to take a second and breathe. We know we’re able to play volleyball, and we did.”

SHP freshman Elena Radeff — the outside hitter is the only freshman on roster for the varsity Gators — had a strong showing throughout, totaling six kills, including slamming one home off the right side to force match point at 14-13.

But Aragon battled back, rattling off three straight points — back-to-back blocks by Tuivailala to tie it and force match point for the Dons — capped by Moore’s 16th kill to send the Dons into a frenzy of on-court celebration.

Phillips led all blockers with six in the match. Aragon junior defensive specialist Kayla Danao totaled 25 digs.

Mercy-SF 3, Westmoor 2

It was a night for wild finishes as Westmoor (4-4) dropped a heartbreaker to Mercy-San Francisco 25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 24-26, 23-21.

The Rams were paced by Dahlia Urrutia’s 13 kills and Christina Chin added 11. Junior setter Megan Ho produced 22 assists.

San Mateo 3, Hillsdale 2

The Bearcats (1-2) rebounded from two sets down to upset Hillsdale 21-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-15, 15-9. Hillsdale (0-5) was paced by Monica Schmidt’s 12 kills while Leiana Cassidy totaled eight.

Crystal Springs Uplands 3, Capuchino 0

Unbeaten Crystal Springs Uplands (4-0) got a sensational service run by senior Mina Mafi in a 25-22, 25-9, 25-17 sweep of Capuchino (1-2). Mafi stepped to the service line in Game 2 with her Gryphons clinging to a 10-9 lead and rattled off 15 straight service points to end it.

Mafi paced the Gryphons with nine kills while sophomore Hannah Renert added eight. Senior setter Sage Shimamoto totaled 20 assists.

Menlo 3, Homestead 0

The Knights (7-3) had to make up for the loss of senior libero Jessica Houghton, who was out sick, and got 10 digs from setter Selina Xu to hold down the fort in a 25-14, 25-20, 25-17 win over Homestead. Mia Vandermeer paced Menlo with nine kills and Sianna Houghton added seven. Riley Holland racked up six service aces and Grace Enright added four.