Knights hungry for more

RIPON -- The tacos were a gift from its No. 1 fan.

The extra day of rest, well, that came courtesy of the Sac-Joaquin Section.

The volleyball playoffs began with a flurry on Tuesday evening with 40 games spread across six divisions.

One of the few idle was the Ripon Christian Knights, the No. 1-ranked team in Division 5 and the most decorated program in section history.

Ripon Christian received a first-round bye and will begin its pursuit of a 15th section title — and fifth in a row — tonight against Turlock Christian, which set up the all-Southern League showdown in the second round with a sweep of Forest Lake Christian in its opener.

The Knights celebrated their off-day with a tasty treat. Tacos, anyone?

The Knights — a loose bunch anchored by senior twins Mikaela and Morgan Alger and national prospect Andie Shelton — enjoyed a lunch catered by principal Kerry Manus, who wanted to congratulate the girls on another perfect run through league play.

Since moving out of the Trans-Valley League in 2009, Ripon Christian has gone 28-0 in the Southern.

"The goal was always to go undefeated in league. This is just a bonus now," Mikaela Alger said. "This is the fun part."

For some.

"Just what they need, a greasy taco," Ripon Christian coach Tiger Shelton said with a throaty laugh before Tuesday's lunch date.

"Actually, two greasy tacos."

To be fair, at this stage in the season, dry toast would give Shelton pause. That's just the way he's wired.

The longtime coach and former athletic director realizes four years of postseason momentum can come unraveled in one night.

"Right now, I've got butterflies. I always do and this is year No. 33 for me," he said. "There's always a chance you can play bad and somebody plays the game of their life. We're going for No. 5, and in the four times we've won it we've had some pretty strong teams and others that weren't so strong.

"It doesn't change the way we go about doing business. My goal is make them play the best they possibly can and hopefully the wins will come."

Ripon Christian has won a Sac-Joaquin Section-best 14 titles — two more than St. Mary's — and the last four Division 5 crowns. A fifth would come with a price. According to section rule adopted last year, Ripon Christian would be elevated to Division 4 status next year with a fifth consecutive crown, and it would remain there until it fails to qualify for the postseason.

The dynasty rule states that any team that wins three straight championships would be moved up. RC got a one-year reprieve because the rule wasn't made official until after its 2010 title.

It's enough to make Shelton's stomach turn, the thought of competing against larger schools..

However, his locker room's focus is clear: No one wants to be remembered as that team.

"It's always in the back of your head," Mikaela Alger said, "but you quickly get over that because we want to keep this going."

The Knights take their cues from the Alger twins, a pair of 6-foot forces that swing and speak loudly. Their presence was felt in a 3-1 win over Mariposa to close league play.

Trailing 1-0, Mikaela and Morgan commandeered the huddle, calming their club: "We got this," they said.

They were right.

Ripon Christian won the next three games, completing its perfect season. As for the twins, they combined for 30 kills in the match.

"They've really taken this team," Shelton said.

It has eased the burden on a young, athletic lineup.

Setter Andie Shelton is one of the nation's top underclassmen and a former national champion with her club team, the Delta Valley 14s. She has played her way into the national team's pipeline and will spend her Christmas break in Colorado Springs, Colo., home of the Olympic Training Center. While she's clearly the most talented player on the court, the Alger twins allow the 15-year-old to blend in with the pack.

"She knows where she stands," the elder Shelton said, uneasy talking about his daughter. "It's important to her that the people around her are getting the credit."

The tacos were a nice show of support, but only one thing satisfies this group's hunger pains: section titles.