Paloma Valley volleyball team set for CIF quarterfinals

Gabby Hollins, shown here in an earlier match, was a star for Paloma Valley Saturday night. Photo by Kristi Jo Aguirre

Continuing another successful postseason run, the Paloma Valley High School girls volleyball team will play at Fountain Valley Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs.

The Wildcats, who advanced to both the CIF-SS finals and the state tournament last fall, improved their record to 28-6 with a comeback victory over West Ranch Saturday night. Paloma Valley lost the first two sets before rallying to win the next three sets, 25-18, 27-25 and 21-19.

Senior Gabby Hollins had a career-high 27 kills, while Lizzy Markovska 15 kills, Jayde Shelton 13 and Shannon Dunkin 9. Olivia Karwin set a school record with 60 assists. Hollins had 8 kills in the third set to help start the comeback and 7 in the decisive set.

Hollins now has 324 kills this season for Paloma Valley. Shelton has 249. Markovska, who joined the team in midseason, has 182.

West Ranch finished its season with a 19-4 record.

In the quarterfinals, Paloma Valley will face a Fountain Valley team that has advanced in the playoffs with wins over St. Margaret's and Rosary Academy. The Barons are 19-11 overall.