The American River College Volleyball program closed out the 2024 season in the semifinals of the 3C2A State Championships. The Beavers, who closed out the season 28-5 overall and co-champions of the Big 8 Conference, defeated LA Mission College 3-1 in the quarterfinals on Dec. 6, and fell to Feather River College 3-0 in the semifinals on Dec. 7.

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - After twice being swept by American River College (ARC) in the regular season, a hungry Feather River College team fully savored a third opportunity versus the Beavers in performing a sweep in the 3C2A Women's Volleyball Championship semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. Feather River (30-7) defeated American River (28-5), 3-0: 25-19, 25-22, 25-23.

There was no coincidence why American River College was making a sixth straight appearance at the 3C2A State Women's Volleyball Championship. The Beavers have height and that was a factor in a heavy block that was too much for LA Mission's attack in a 4-set quarterfinals victory for the Beavers on Friday, Dec. 6.

In their quarterfinal matchup, American River received another sterling performance by 5-foot-11 Morgan Castaneda, who rifled 21 kills (hit .292) with 10 digs and three blocks, but the Beavers also relied on the blocking and net talents of 6-1 Celestine Hayes (three kills, five blocks), 6-foot Mallory Kuehl (five kills in only six attacks and six blocks), 5-11 Kyla Powell, who chipped in seven kills and two blocks, and 5-10 Amiah Cornejo, who contributed five kills and served three aces off the ARC bench. 

The Dec. 7 semifinal matchup featured American River College versus Feather River College. The Battle of the rivers began with Feather River’s Tiare Faupula scoring four kills and making three blocks in a 6-point opening set triumph. Feather River led 15-7 and ran away with the game and a 1-0 lead.

In the semifinal second set, American River jumped out to a 9-3 lead only to see the Golden Eagles go on a 5-0 run to slice it to one. The Beavers would then lead 14-11 and 17-14 before Feather River went on an 8-2 run capped by a block by Faupula and Ledua Koi for a 22-19 advantage. Two kills by Ane Tuinauvai and another stuff by Lucy Ryan and Mia Rivera captured the 3-point win and a commanding 2-0 sets lead.

In the third set, the Beavers tried to rally as 6-foot-2 Jayda Moran came off the bench to record a pair of blocks with teammate Malloy Kuehl and built a 14-6 lead. An Amiah Cornejo/Celestine Hayes block doubled the score at 16-8 and a kill by Kuehl later made it 18-11.

Tuinauvai, who missed both of the first two encounters with American River due to injury, buried three kills in a momentous 11-2 run to give Feather River a 22-20 lead. A push kill by Kaylynn Whitt, an ace by Sofia McPherson, and an attack error by Feather River regained the lead for American River at 23-22. 

The Beavers though couldn't finish off the set as a solo block by Mia Rivera was sandwiched by two rifle kills by Ryan to complete the surprising Feather River sweep.

Overall for Feather River, quarterfinals hero Chloe Albiez powered 10 kills, Tuinauvai eight kills with 12 digs, Faupula seven kills (.313) and five blocks, and Rivera three kills and six blocks. Teya Gibbs was a setting/defensive stalwart on 13 assists and 12 digs while the team's starting setter Maya Cann dished out 24 assists.

For American River, All-American Morgan Castaneda was limited to 10 kills with 10 digs, Kuehl had four kills, five blocks, and two aces, and Cornejo scored six kills.

"Feather River swung aggressively with a nothing to lose, underdog mentality," said American River College head coach Carson Lowden, who brought her team to the state tourney for the sixth straight season. "I thought we served and passed well. We didn't put enough offensive pressure on them. The difference was that they just did a great job in transition."

The loss snapped American River College’s 13-match win streak.