Osan's Clarice Lee hits against CAJ's Annabelle Rudd. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Twenty-five years apart, Lisa Cummings showed she’s just as capable of winning Far East Division II volleyball tournament titles as a setter and a coach.
The 2002 Christian Academy Japan graduate and Knights’ fourth-year coach claimed that honor at Yokota High School, as CAJ held off a stubborn Osan team 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19 in Saturday’s championship match.
“It’s amazing,” Cummings said. “I never thought I would win as a coach, too.”
The former Lisa Hayashi was a sophomore setter when the Knights beat host Daegu in the double-elimination format’s deciding “if necessary” match in the 1999 Far East D-II tournament at Korea’s Camp Walker.
“It’s been a journey but these girls have worked hard,” said Cummings, who has coached most of the Knights since they were in the sixth grade.
“It’s a dream come true,” Cummings said. “It’s been our goal.”
Senior and tournament Most Valuable Player Erica Yokota led the way with nine kills and five aces. Setter Misaki Matsuoka contributed 32 assists and Sakurako Abe and Naya Cummings – daughter of the coach and CAJ’s athletics director Caleb Cummings – had seven kills each.
Osan's Clarice Lee goes all out to try to save a CAJ shot. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)
Osan's Audrey Riel hits against CAJ middle blocker Sakurako Abe. (Greg Holladay/Special to Stripes)
Annicia Cruz and the Cougars defense made save after save and dig after dig against the Knights. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Setter Hanna Rutland had 23 assists for the Cougars. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
The victorious Knights gather 'round the banner. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Thought to be an also-ran behind pre-tournament favorite E.J. King and defending champion Yokota, the Cougars made a strong run through the single-elimination playoffs, eliminating the host Panthers 25-16, 25-20, 25-21 earlier Saturday to reach the final.
“We pushed through to the final and I thought we deserved it,” said senior outside hitter Clarice Lee, who led the Cougars with a match-high 11 kills.
The Knights had to survive an epic battle just to reach the championship, outlasting the Cobras in five sets in Saturday’s other semifinal, 9-25, 25-18, 27-25, 21-25, 16-14.
Early in the first set of Saturday’s final, the Cougars lost middle blocker Camrynn Tuigamala with an injured left leg. She returned in the third set but saw limited action the rest of the way.
“We were kind of shaken,” Lee said of when Tuigamala exited, “but our defense made up for it. They were where they were supposed to be. I’m really proud of them.”
Lee, fellow outside hitter Abigail Elliott and libero Annicia Cruz made dig after dig, save after save, but in the first, third and fourth sets, the Knights pulled away each time. Reserve Moana Hasegawa had the championship-winning kill from the right side.
The Cougars outlasted the Knights in the second set and took a brief lead in the third before CAJ put away the match for keeps.
Tiffany Pak added five kills for the Cougars and Elliott had four aces. Setter Hanna Rutland had 23 assists for Osan.
Last year’s finalists ended up playing for third place, and the third time was the charm for the Cobras. After losing to Yokota in four sets in last year’s final and in two sets in pool play on Thursday, the Cobras downed the Panthers 25-19, 25-14, 25-23.
