Volleyball Roundup: Big Valley, two section champions secure first-round NorCal wins
Last year, the Big Valley Christian volleyball team had its best season in school history. A Division VI section championship and CIF Northern California Regional final appearance capped a 27-12 season, arguably the most successful in school history.
This year, the Lions (21-6) entered the season with nine players, four of whom were returners, including one senior.
The Sac-Joaquin Section elected to move them up from Division VI to V for the postseason, which coaches usually prepare for by scheduling tougher nonleague opponents and participating in more tournaments.
Lions coach Sarah Beers couldn’t do that.
“We scheduled two tournaments,” Beers said. “I didn’t schedule too many more because I didn’t want to wear their bodies out. I would have loved to play against some tougher competition, but I was trying to look out for their bodies.”
The Lions finished the regular season 20-5 and took an 11-game win streak into the Division V playoffs.
They entered the postseason as the third seed, earning a first-round bye. They beat Vacaville Christian in straight sets, ensuring a matchup with Bret Harte in the semifinals. The Bullfrogs cruised to victory to secure a spot in the section championship.
“It was really exciting to get to play against strong competition,” Beers said. “(Losing) was heartbreaking, especially for our one senior. I don’t think I slept a whole lot the night after.”
By advancing to the section semifinals, the Lions also earned a spot in the CIF Northern California Regional playoffs. After playing in Division VI last season, this year they earned the No. 4 spot in Division V.
“It was such a joy to get a second chance at continuing to play,” Beers said. “I honestly didn’t realize we were still in it until the next day when one of my coaching friends was like, ‘You’re still in it, you’re going to state (because) you made it to the semifinals.’”
The Lions hosted Minarets in the opening round of the regional playoffs Tuesday. After taking the first two sets, it looked like they would coast to victory. The Mustangs made things interesting, winning the third and taking Big Valley the distance in the fourth, but the home team pulled out the four-set victory, 25-17, 25-17, 25-23, 27-25.
Senior Trinity Beers led the team with 20 kills and 11 digs, and Jordan Beers added 18 kills and 12 digs. Ella Alavezos finished with a team-high 38 assists.
“Minarets did an amazing job of fighting, playing defense and having good offense,” Sarah Beers said. “They really came alive in that third set and made us have to fight for it that much more, which I think is why we came out and in the fourth set saying OK, they’re not just gonna lay down and let us have this, we have to earn this. So the girls really put their heads down and did work.”
The Lions are in uncharted territory.
If they keep winning, they have the chance at playing for a true state title. It will possibly be the first time, as Division VI has only a NorCal title.
“Last year, everything was this magical unknown for our team,” Beers said. “None of us had gone that far or done that. To repeat that would have been fun, but it wouldn’t have been unknown, whereas this is kind of exciting. That makes us want to work that much harder for it. So it’s exciting to have that opportunity and just to keep fighting.”
Stanislaus District NorCal Regional Volleyball Scores
Division I
No. 5 Branson 3, No. 12 Pitman 0: The Central California Athletic League champion Pride fell to Branson in straight sets Tuesday night. Pitman’s season ends with a 30-4 overall record.
Division II
No. 9 Escalon 3, No. 8 Los Altos 2: After being moved up from Division III to Division II for the state playoffs, the Cougars traveled to Los Altos and upset the Eagles in their third straight five-set match, 27-25, 22-25, 25-15, 20-25, 15-9. Escalon moves to 33-1 and will play top seeded Clovis North Thursday at 6 p.m.
Division IV
No. 9 Ripon Christian 3, No. 8 Lowell 1: The Knights took an early two-set lead but Lowell refused to be swept. The home team took the third of four sets, but Ripon Christian regrouped to secure the upset, 25-20, 25-15, 24-26, 25-17. It faces the Division IV top seed, Urban of San Francisco Thursday at 6 p.m.
No. 11 Head-Royce 3, No. 6 Central Catholic 1: The host Raiders fell in four sets to the Jayhawks in their Division IV regional matchup, 25-20, 17-25, 26-24, 25-20. The Valley Oak League’s third-place finisher ends its season with a 15-11 record.
No. 15 Chico 3, No. 2 Ripon 2: The Indians were upset by visiting Chico in an exciting five-set match 25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13. They finished with a 22-11 record.
This story was originally published November 9, 2022 at 8:41 AM.
