Heading into last Thursday night's match with School of the Osage, the Lady Pintos already knew their fate in the Class 3, District 12 Tournament next week at Blair Oaks High School, which is another meeting with the Lady Indians.
California got the better of Osage in the preview of the of the first round matchup, winning in straight sets, 25-22, 25-21. But the Lady Pintos' head coach Julie Bailey doesn't believe the outcome had any advantages or disadvantages to it.
"I'm not sure it matters," she said. "I don't think we played near up to our potential. We know what we have to do to beat them, and we can't play their game."
Bailey stressed to her team not to get caught up in Osage's game, and to hit the ball at them in attack. She didn't want to see her girls tipping balls because she knew the Lady Indians didn't allow many to hit the floor.
"When we hit at them, we got a point, but when we were playing their game of tipping, they know how to play that game," Bailey said. "When we see them again in districts, that's the adjustment we're going to have to make. Play our game, not their game."
The first set featured 13 ties and seven lead changes, with California edging the 25-22 first set win.
Neither team held more than a two-point lead until California grabbed the 16-13 advantage, and by that point there was already nine ties and three lead changes. After California held the 17-13 lead, Osage ripped off six-straight points to retake the lead, 19-17.
"I was frustrated because I felt like the girls weren't playing at their level," Bailey said. "I don't think they were playing at their level at all tonight."
Down 21-20, California called a timeout, then won five of the next six points to claim the set.
In the second set, California held a small lead throughout the early portions of the set. The Lady Indians tied game at 11, then took their first lead since it was 1-0. That didn't last long as the Lady Pintos jumped up 17-14, then 20-17.
California won five of the next six points for the second consecutive set to sweep Osage in two sets.
Ashtyn Goans led the offense that totaled 30 kills with 11 of them.
"We all forget that she had knee surgery a year ago with a torn ACL," Bailey said. "That's something a lot of people don't come back from. She's had a lot of knee pain all season, so either she's adjusting to the pain, or maybe it's at a point where she can feel more comfortable with it."
Adrienne Strickfaden recorded eight kills and two blocks and Cameron Meyer added five kills. Emma Bailey led the team with 20 digs.