God save the Queen!

By Michael Ashcraft --

She actually signed her Shakespeare Sonnet quiz "Queen Elizabeth."

Maybe she was being facetions, but later Thursday afternoon, she appropriated the title on the volleyball court by completing the reign of terror of Lighthouse Christian Academy's strike force.

Dahlia Gonzalez and Clara Czer (also Frida Macias) provided the crossing spikes from opposite corners, creating havoc to the well-organized Gator team.

Then, senior Elizabeth Foreman provided the quick surprise shot from the middle that caught off guard forces deployed to deal with deadly corner attacks.

Accordingly, Lighthouse won 3 of 4 sets to extend its season winning streak to three.

After narrowly losing its first game 23-25, LCA won the second game 25-18, its third 25-19 and its fourth 25-20 in hard-fought, adrenaline-surging match.

After flaying the Gators, Lighthouse was feeling Gucci.

Lighthouse started sleepy. It seems like one of LCA's problems is hitting its stride. In the first set, the Saints miffed spikes and serves go down 4-12. Eventually, they found their form and closed the gap, not enough to win though.

It was the last time LCA trailed. The Newbury Gators made effective use of their available resources. If intimidating junior Kennedy Ochoa wasn't smashing the ball, they at least got it over to allow the Saints bumble.

Doing Newbury the favor, LCA ran a higher error ratio.

In its favor, LCA was more effective at digging and executing to spike.

"They were the toughest team we've played so far for sure," said Newbury Coach Jodi Ramirez. "There were barely any balls that hit the floor."

After the win, Elizabeth was beaming like a queen. It was only her second time playing for Lighthouse. She only transferred to LCA Spring 2022 as a junior.

"I love my team, and I love my coach, and I love my school," she gushed. "I love God, and I think we played this game for God."

Frida paid homage. "It's nice having her because, one, she's tall, and she's a good team player." At 5'8", Elizabeth is the tallest of the Saints.

"I told her to be aggressive and hit hard in the front row," observed Coach Jessica Young.

Also of note: team captain Allie Scribner, a sophomore, went beast mode. If she wasn't acing serves, she was setting spikes and making backrow hits to dishearten the Gators.

Dahlia continued her streak of smashes and RPG serves from the previous two games. Twice she blocked Kennedy's spikes, which must have discouraged the dominant player.

But Kennedy returned the kindness, humbling Dahlia with a pair of blocks. If things go well, these two girls will remember each other and continue the rivalry next year.

Read about LCA's other games:

Is Tuesday the 13th a Thing?

Zeus Showed Up

Michael Ashcraft teaches journalism at the Lighthouse Christian Academy of Santa Monica.