Wacky Wednesday, Whacky Tuesday

By Michael Ashcraft --

For WACKY Wednesday, Clara Czer wore impossible hair to school. For WHACKING Tuesday, the sophomore was whacking balls down upon her adversaries.

Lighthouse Christian Academy made full use of her hits (13) and kills (5) to beat San Fernando Valley Academy 3 sets to 1 in an intense girls volleyball competition Tuesday in Northridge.

"Clara was pretty consistent the whole game. She was almost flawless," Coach Jessica Young said. "She has come a long way from junior high. She is able to control her emotions. She's probably our best hitter right now. She has pushed herself harder and harder, and she can spike it almost straight down."

In the last, hard-fought set that drew out to 30-28, Coach Jessica instructed the team to "play smart" in the last back-and-forth trading "just one point to win" moments. Just get the ball over and don't try to be too aggressive.

Clara still did -- successfully -- back row spikes.

"I thought inside, 'Oh she didn't listen to me," Coach said. "For her 'playing smart' is that aggressive. But she got it in."

Nobody complains if you don't mess up.

Lighthouse is now 8-1 and almost virtually guaranteed a playoff spot. Its last season game is Thursday against league-leaders Beacon Hill Classical.

"We had a lot of great team energy. I'm just really proud of us," Clara said. "I think all of us are really improving. I'm so proud."

Lighthouse struggled in the first set to adapt. SFVA hosted the game in its Northridge gym, a court covered with carpet. This took LCA off guard because the Saints usually dive for balls.

"At least two of our girls have rug burns," Coach Jessica said. "They're bleeding."

The SFVA gym also had an unusually low roof, and the Saints lost more than one volley just because they hit with their accustomed strength. When the ball hits the roof or a fixture before going over, it's the other team's point. They lost the first set 20-25.

By set 2, LCA had recalibrated and won 25-23. "We came back really well," Clara said.

The Huskies brought a smart, if not sophisticated game, based on two hitters and three great servers. They focused more on just getting the ball over and sought and found holes and weak players.

Meanwhile, the Saints battled for the beautiful game: dig, set, spike. Sometimes, LCA shot itself in the foot trying to be too professional.

The Huskies brought a raucous fan base, but if they hoped to intimidate the Saints, it seemed all the did was awaken a sleeping giant.

"Actually we do feed off negative energy," Coach Jessica said. "They're very strong."

"The pressure doesn't get to us anymore," Clara agreed.

In set 3, LCA liquidated the game 25-11.

The huskies staged a charge in set 4 drawing the game out into "overtime" (you have to win by a 2-point spread even if you get to 25 first). Lighthouse did well to dig their best serves but couldn't dive because of the carpet.

Also, LCA misfired five serves in the last set. This favored SFVA.

Clara came to school on Wacky Wednesday with something like a 1960s beehive hairdo, but it was a plastic bottled that provided the structure to pin her hair upwards.

Great fun! Wacky.

Winning games with hits was also great fun! Whacky.

Also read other LCA games:

Vs. Beacon Hill Academy Oct. 14,
Vs Summit View Sept. 29
Vs. Ojai Valley School Sept. 28.
Vs. SCVi Sept. 23.
Vs. Newbury Park Adventist Academy Sept. 9
Vs. Hillcrest Christian Sept. 15.
Vs. Gorman Learning Center Sept 16.

Vs. Beacon Hill Academy Oct. 14,

Michael Ashcraft teaches journalism at the Lighthouse Christian Academy, near Mar Vista, Los Angeles.