Bonita Dispatches Highlanders, Now Headed for Land of Palm Trees and Pools

It was feel-good victory for the Bearcats. Here coach Contreras chats with Briana Kennedy before the start of the game.

Too much length, too much power, too much experience. That was the story line as Bonita defeated the La Habra Highlanders 25-11, 25-20 and 25-9 in the opening round of the Division 2A playoffs at Bonita High School on Thursday night.

It was a push-button performance by the Bearcats, who were led by Katie Kirby’s 15 goals and Victoria Dennis’s dozen. Ashley Maxfeldt responded with 33 assists and 3 aces.

Given Bonita’s 21-4 record and La Habra’s underwhelming 14-15 record, there was an air of inevitability about the contest, like Caesar crossing the Rubicon. Bonita was Caesar and La Habra, the foil, was the Roman Senate, without the legions to turn back Caesar’s ambitions.

All of Bonita’s offensive combinations were working – Maxfeldt to Kirby, Maxfeldt to Dennis, Maxfeldt to Briana Kennedy, Maxfeldt to anybody, digging out balls and setting them perfectly for her teammates.

Katie Kirby was full of anticipation before the start of the game.

Other than a communication hiccup midway in the second match, Bonita looked very much like the team that made it to the CIF finals last year.

“We struggled a little bit communications-wise,” said Bonita head coach Adriana Contreras. “But defensively, in Game 1 and Game 3, we were absolutely on top of it.”

Bonita also welcomed back its libero, Rebecca Aguilera, who was out about three weeks with a twisted ankle. In her absence, Melissa Katherman, “did a phenomenal job.”

Other than the usual butterflies that accompany the CIF’s one-and-done format, Bonita’s workmanlike efficiency was a good sign that the team intends a long playoff run.

“We had some pre-game jitters, but that’s normal,” Contreras added. But we were pretty confident. We have a great team.”

Bonita plays Palm Springs High School (24-2) in Palm Springs on Saturday at 7 p.m.