Girls volleyball: Archie Williams outlasts Terra Linda in four sets

It wasn’t quite like the three-game sweep that the Archie Williams High girls volleyball team enjoyed in its regular-season meeting with Terra Linda.

In fact, the fourth-seeded Peregrine Falcons had to claw their way back on Saturday night from a first-set loss before rallying for a 23-25, 25-17, 25-13, 27-25 victory over the No. 5 Trojans during the North Coast Section Division III quarterfinal match in San Anselmo.

Archie Williams (16-5), which has won four of its past five matches, advances against another familiar county foe in top-seeded Branson in Wednesday’s semifinals.

The Bulls, who are the two-time defending section champs in D-III, swept Archie Williams during their league match in September.

Against TL (21-12), outside hitter Elsa Snipes stole the show for the Peregrine Falcons.

Snipes poured in a career-best 34 kills to go with nine digs and served for two aces to help Archie dig out of the early hole and string together three consecutive sets to advance.

“She was all over the place,” Archie Williams coach Lisa Hudson said of Snipes. “She was determined to get 30 (kills) tonight.”

Trailing 2-1 going into the fourth set, the Trojans jumped out to an early lead. Cecilia Osborn had one of her team-high 12 kills then a net violation against Archie Williams gave TL its biggest lead of the match at 12-6.

The Peregrine Falcons were able to chip away at the deficit. Lauren Barnwell’s ace gave Archie Williams its first lead of the set at 20-19.

Snipes had 10 kills in that final set, including a drop shot that made it 26-25. Katie Griffiths slammed home the final point to give the Peregrine Falcons the match.

“Where the 34 kills came from … being an undersized outside hitter, I have to mix up my shots constantly,” Snipes said. “If I am getting blocked or something isn’t working I have to change it up really fast because I am getting set the majority of the balls. For me, I’m inspired just being shorter than almost all the girls on that team and most outside hitters … to work my angles and play how I play. It’s a different way than most outside hitters, but I really felt that way tonight.”

Griffiths recorded a season-high 11 kills to go with her three blocks from her middle-blocker spot.

Setter Reese Fraser (53 assists, nine kills, two aces), Lauren Barnwell (11 kills, nine digs, five aces and a block) and Phoebe Galland (29 digs, nine assists) were also key contributors in the win.

“I think the girls had to settle in and find their groove, like we did in those last three sets,” Hudson said. “I am really impressed how we were able to put the ball away tonight and our passing was there. We served really well and kept them out of system. Our team fought until the ball hit the floor.”

Osborn, who finished with 12 digs and two blocks and Olivia Brewster (nine kills, two blocks) were instrumental in keying TL’s 27-25 victory in the opening set.

“We put in really hard work in the past week in the gym and just making some changes to our offense made us more aggressive,” TL coach Mandy Torres said. “I thought it allowed us to build momentum in that first set for sure and also edge our way back in the fourth set.”