INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I’m covering the Riverside La Sierra-Jurupa Valley Patriot girls varsity volleyball match today, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, for The Press-Enterprise, HSGametime.pe.com & @PEcom_preps.

The best part of the this assignment is that it’s for first place in the River Valley League.

THE LOW DOWN:
The Eagles (9-6 overall, 3-0 River Valley League) are on a roll in October, unbeaten to open league play. They’ve dropped just one game since losing back-to-back nonleague matches to Norco and Corona Centennial to close out September. Senior MB/OH Lauren Reid tops this team with 125 kills and five solo blocks, and junior OH Savahna Costello leads with 140 digs and 44 service aces.

The Warriors (6-1, 3-0 River Valley League) are tournament tested, unbeaten at home and unbeaten to start league. Senior twin sisters Darria and Darricka Hewitt, a pair of 5-foot-10 hitters who have combined for 226 kills, are the focal point. The duo is great in service, too, with 96 aces between them. An athletic defense is led by senior libero Tiara Roche’s 136 digs, just ahead of Darricka Hewitt’s 131 so far.

THE KEY PLAYERS:
La Sierra — OH Savahna Costello (Jr., 5-foot-5); MH/OH Malaya Dean (Sr., 5-7); S Maddie Lozano (Sr., 5-4); MB/OH Lauren Reid (Sr., 5-10); OH/MH Ashley Weaver (Sr., 5-8).

Patriot — MH Darria Hewitt (Sr., 5-foot-10); OH Darricka Hewitt (Sr., 5-foot-10); OH Belle Herrera (Jr., 5-7); S Kaitlyn Ober (Jr., 5-5); L/DS Tiara Roche (Sr., 5-3).

THE DIFFERENCE:
La Sierra has won 24 straight league matches and is 6-0 all-time vs. Patriot. For the Warriors to win it would be a stunning upset.

THE FINAL SCORE:
La Sierra 3, Patriot 1