Pitman embraces second chance, sweeps Rio Americano in NorCal first round
The Pitman High volleyball team took full advantage of its second chance on Tuesday evening.
After thinking their season ended with a loss to Folsom 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs, the Pride received word that they would be the section’s lone at-large bid in the state tournament. Usually Sac-Joaquin Section teams must advance to at least the section semifinals to advance to the CIF Northern California Regional Championships.
They received the bid due to their ranking in the section. Pitman (34-6) was the highest ranked team in the section that did not make the semifinals, meaning they would have a week of practice, then their season would continue.
It didn’t feel real at first because there were so many emotions because we thought we were done,” said sophomore outside hitter Maryn Hall. “It was kind of confusing, and then we got excited. It was a relief.”
Pitman swept Rio Americano (37-6) in the opening round of the NorCal playoffs 25-23, 25-13, 25-14 to advance to the second round. The Pride travel to Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep of San Francisco Thursday for a 6 p.m. matchup.
“We’re all super excited,” said Pitman coach Kristen Pontes-Christian.”We’re fresh, we haven’t been playing sets which I think could be an advantage for us and we’ve just been focusing on the little things that we need to do. It’s been a good week of practice and we did some team bonding. We’re stoked to be in the tournament.”
With a week between matches, rust and nerves showed in a back-and-forth first set. Pitman took a 19-17 lead late to force a timeout. Coming out of the stoppage, the Pride went on a 4-1 run punctuated by a block from senior Madison Eissayou to take momentum. Senior Ella Sniezek ended the set with a kill.
Pitman started the second set on a 6-0 run and later in the set used a 7-0 run to open up a 16-5 lead. During the run, Hall tallied four of her 10 kills. The Pride used that momentum to coast to a 2-0 advantage.
“I kind of just shook off the last game and I was like, ‘Okay, we gotta get this one done,’” Hall said. “We have a second chance, we have to utilize it.”
Pitman was dominant in the third set as well, jumping out to an early lead. Late in the frame, Sniezek went on a personal 6-2 run, helping Pitman’s lead extend from 16-10 to 22-12. With Pitman ahead 24-14, Avery Ahlem ended the match with a booming kill.
“It’s going to boost us,” Sniezek said of the momentum they gained from Tuesday’s win. “I think that we can keep going. We just have to keep on it.”
Sniezek led the team with 16 kills and added eight digs. Setter Payton Rowell had 43 assists and 12 digs and Mindy Wu finished with a team-high 17 digs.
Not only does Pitman live to fight another day with the win, Pontes-Christian also gets to coach at least one more game. The veteran coach will step down after this season. In her years of coaching she has learned this: second chances do not come around too often.
“We lost and so we all thought we were done, I thought I was done,” Pontes-Christian said, “and then we got that email at 10:45 a.m. the next day.
“Not only do we get to move on, but we also get to do it in our own gym, which is amazing. I even put on my 2014 state shirt. … It felt great. I think we’re all super excited.”
Things could be lining up for the Pride to make a run as the top two seeds, No. 1 Windsor and No. 2 Pleasant Valley were both upset Tuesday night. On Pitman’s side of the bracket, should they advance to the semifinals, they would have the opportunity to host another playoff game against the winner of No. 15 Tamalpais at No. 7 Notre Dame of Belmont. In order to get there, they will have to stage an upset of their own.
“I expect every match to be difficult and tough and to battle and I don’t feel like any team is going to give it to us. I told the team what it comes down to is whoever wants it more sometimes because every team is talented at this point,” Pontes-Christian said. “I told them if one player doesn’t want to get there, then we could be done. We have to have that mindset that we are going to continue and we’re going to win, but we’re also going to battle because it’s going to be tough competition.”
Stanislaus District NorCal Volleyball Scores
Clovis North 3, Central Catholic 1
Berean Christian 3, Beyer 2
Ripon Christian 3, Head Royce 1
Archie Williams 3, Ripon 2
University Prep 3, Big Valley Christian 2
