By Michael Ashcraft --
In the third game of first round playoffs, Shayla Papik, play-maker, difference-maker, setter extraordinaire, conked her knee.
"Yesterday I hurt it, and this morning I was in so much pain. I didn't even feel like I could play," Shayla tells. "(They) prayed for me, and literally it was healed coming to the game. That one play, I dove wrong and hit it again. It spasmed and numbed up. So much pain. The whole team prayed for me. It's an awesome feeling knowing that everybody on the team is supporting you and praying for you."
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After a the timeout, Shayla returned to the court, nodded to the ref that she was fine, and continue to fuel the Lighthouse Christian Academy's drive to victory.
The Saints won the first, third and fifth game against Saint Mary's Academy of Inglewood to advance to second round of playoffs.
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"That was our best game we've ever played. We showed some of our best skills," celebrated Coach Jessica Young. "We gave it our best. They're really good mentally, they keep their focus, encouraging."
As team captain, Shayla came out serving fireballs bring the Saints a surge early in game one. The Saints were at their highest level of concentration and were dominant. They won 25-17.
In Game 2, the Belles found their stride and caught Lighthouse off guard with electric serves. The girls from Inglewood showed they had capable hitters, who challenged LCA's back row more than they've seen all season. The Belles won 23-25.
Game 3 sided for the Saints 26-24, despite Shayla banging her knee. Prayer seemed to do the trick. (If there's one thing LCA takes more seriously than volleyball, it is their Christianity.)
In Game 4, Saint Mary Academy iced it 19-25.
It was down the fifth game, which only goes to 15. The Saints played again at their highest intensity and finished off the Belles 15-10.
Shayla tallied 12 aces, 4 unreturned hits, 11 digs, 21 assists and 3 blocks.
Jillian Jenkins racked up 23 unreturned hits, 3 aces and 11 digs.
Lucy Young: 9 digs. Riley Gonzalez: 3 aces, 11 digs. Eden Garcia: 10 digs, 1 ace.
The Lighthouse entered playoffs undefeated in league play.
