In what can only be described as a missed opportunity, the Albany High School Cougars lost the California Interscholastic Federation Championship Division III Match to the Cathedral Catholic Dons, 25-15, 23-25, 21-25, 31-29, 16-14.
A back-and-forth affair put the Cougars in a prime position to upset the heavily favored Dons, who were the SoCal representatives, and state champions in 2008 and 2009 and runners up last year.
The Cougars started off cold but got hot, with star outside hitter Kyra Holt leading the game with 19 kills. Amber Erhahon and Kari Castanon-Hill each had 11 for the Cougars.
Albany gained the upper hand in the second and third sets, coming from behind by as much as seven points to take the lead.
Errors and missed serves brought the Dons back, however, as they won a marathon fourth set, 31-29.
A decisive fifth set was the kryptonite for the Cougars. Two wide serves from Anu Munkhtur put the Dons up despite a crafty, momentum-changing serve from sophomore Shannon Riggio-Kerley.
After committing a foot fault, the Dons clawed back into the competition and gained a one-point advantage late to put them up 15-14. A missed hit by Castanon-Hill sealed the victory for the Dons, 16-14, ending a dream season for Albany in the most agonizing way possible.
Despite the loss, the Cougars advanced the farthest in school history, and are the Bay Shore Athletic League, North Coast Section, and NorCal champions for 2011.
Photos below are from NCS Championship win over Drake.
