Editors note: Due to press deadlines, the championship game story will appear in next Friday’s (November 15) edition.

DOWNEY – A historical CIF-Southern Section playoff run by the St. Pius X-St Matthews Academy Girls Volleyball team has led the Warriors to their first championship appearance in school history.

The playoff run is historical enough, let alone advancing to the title match (Thursday Nov. 7) against Rialto.

According to school records, the volleyball program has only qualified for the post-season four times in the last 21 years, with school officials noting it could be longer.

One of those two playoffs were last season under first-year coach Ariel Guzman-Avila and the other two were in 2004 and ‘19.

PMA didn’t make it past the first round in any of the three.

The first-round playoff sweep (25-21, 25-18, 25-14) on October 24 against Desert Mirage was the first time the program had advanced to the second round.

The run was on as the Warriors defeated Century, 18-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-21, in the second round came from two sets down to defeat, San Gorgonio, 21-25, 19-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-7, in the quarterfinals and swept Nogales, 25-20, 25-21, 25-11 in last Saturday’s semifinals.

Both finalists have a below .500 record, with PMA with a 16-17 record (4th Santa Fe League) and Rialto, a 12-14 standing, (3rd in the San Andreas League).

All four playoff teams in the Santa Fe League won through the first round and both PMA and St. Paul are going to be playing for a Championship.

“This is our second season in a row making playoffs and the first time in a championship,” said Guzman-Avila, who is also the PMA girls soccer coach. “Also, it’s the first time qualifying for the state tournament as well. (CIF-State Championship Playoffs begin Wednesday and Thursday Nov. 13, 14)

“We managed to do so playing through a full schedule with high level playoff teams from last year as a way to prepare ourselves for the season and ultimately it's helped us with experience to make this amazing run we're on.”

The historical semifinal win was the culmination of a long hard season and Guzman knows of its importance.

“The semifinal game for us was one of the most memorable in so many levels, given that it was the last home game that we had this season,” Guzman-Avila added. “Making it this far is an achievement for any school but given that this is the furthest we've ever been in school history, it’s been the genuine honor of my life to be with this group and to have helped foster and build the foundation for what I hope will continue to be a successful program going forward.

“This playoff run, this experience, everything that this group has gone through has built them into the never say die group that they are today,” said Guzman-Avila. “That speaks volumes and will continue to speak highly about our program and speaks to the strength of these student-athletes, which is a fully home-grown program with only one transfer on JV.”

Leading the way for the Warriors is outside hitters Vera Vasquez and Monica Boone, who account for 70% of the kills. Vasquez is slightly ahead on kills as "kills leader" for the season. They are spilt 50/50 in percentages.

Libero and senior captain Samantha Bayardo is the teams’ digs leader both for the regular season and in the playoffs.

“Our Captains are seniors Samantha Bayardo and Zoe Zamudio who bring strong leadership to the program and set a fantastic example and have served as catalysts for this run that we've put together,” Guzman-Avila said.

Coach Guzman-Avila is aided on his coaching staff with his father, Chris Guzman,

“My dad has been a major part of the foundation and forming players,” he said. “It's been one of the honors of my life getting to coach alongside him and having built PMA volleyball to these heights.

“Last season we were able to put together the building blocks for this program and this year we're really seeing the fruits of all that work. More so from those who got moved up to varsity this year for playoffs.

“Having made the playoffs a second year in a row has proven that the foundation is there and that those student-athletes moving up in the program will have some big shoes to fill going forward in regard to those seniors who will be graduating.”

Guzman-Avila was originally hired to run the girls soccer program, but said it has been a real honor to have grown with this group.

Reflecting overall on this season, it’s been one of the most memorable in my years of coaching and I've been around this game for as long as I can remember.

In this run with this particular group of student-athletes is one I'm going to remember my whole life and truly if it can culminate in a Championship.

Having dealt with all the adversity that they have even before we got here has demonstrated that not only do they belong but they're more than deserving of this opportunity that has presented itself for us.”

What they said:

Ariel Guzman-Avila, Head Coach: “Honestly, I’d say our attitude and mental state and our adaptation from believing that we couldn’t do anything on the floor to us being able to compete at a very high level.

A chance to compete and make a playoff push for the last two seasons and my hope for the future is that this keeps growing and opportunities for these student-athletes start to grow and exist past PMA. And, hopefully, getting these kids to continue playing into the next level in college.

Stephanie Zesati, JR Middle Blocker: “The biggest change is the energy in the gym and a more competitive mentality.

Our preseason schedule like such teams as Bishop Amat, Taft and Linfield Christian, really prepared us for our league. We proved that we could keep up with them.

In our most recent tournament when we started playing with these higher schools, and when we took a couple sets from Ramona and Pomona Catholic and then went to five sets with them, that really showed me that, wow, we really improved a lot and we could make a run in the division.”

Vera Vasquez, JR, Outside Hitter: “I think the change of coaches really helped. In my freshman year we were really stuck and when they brough in new coaches it definitely opened up more horizons.

It’s an honor getting to play with these girls and getting to make a name for volleyball here (PMA). It’s something beautiful to see, getting to state and I want to show everyone that volleyball is a fun game.”

Leah Delgado, SR, Right Back: “At first, we didn’t expect it (the wins) and I guess we just built up the confidence throughout the playoff run and it made us stronger. Now we realize what we’re capable of and it really just brought us together.

It’s shocking first of all and surprising (to get to state) and feels like all of our work has paid off and lucky to be in the position we are.”

Samantha Bayardo, SR, Libero: “I’ve been on varsity all four years and it’s kind of crazy that we brought them this far. Every single year it’s been a battle to build our program and this last year in the playoffs I’m just blessed and we’ve gone all the way here to the championship (game). It’s a lot more than I could have ever asked for.

Our group of seniors really grew up and we all just came together as a team giving 110%. What more could you ask for. We really pushed this time, day in and day out.”