Big Valley Christian volleyball to play for NorCal title after semifinals sweep
The Big Valley Christian volleyball team secured a Mother Lode League championship when the regular season ended in late October and won a section title Nov. 8 at Cosumnes River College. Now, after a sweep in the CIF Northern California regional semifinals, the Lions have the chance to complete the mission, qualifying to play for a NorCal championship Tuesday.
Awarded the top seed in the division, Big Valley Christian hosted No. 4 Etna on Saturday night with a spot in the NorCal title match on the line. The Lions were dominant in the first two sets and battled through a third set, winning the match 25-13, 25-12, 25-21.
“It’s a bit surreal,” first-year head coach Michelle Camoirano said of advancing. “I’m super excited for these girls and their opportunity to do this. It’s the final game for seven of our girls — they’re seniors and this is a really awesome way to go out.”
The Lions got up 10-4 early in the first set, prompting an Etna timeout. Big Valley did not let up after the break, opening an 18-11 advantage after an Ella Alavezos ace. From that point on, the Lions ended the set on a 7-2 run. A senior setter, Alavezos holds school records for career assists, single-season assists and single-game assists. She entered the match 10th in California in assists (990) and ninth in aces (116).
The second set was more of the same. The Lions took a 14-10 lead and went up 16-12 before completely taking over the frame. Faye Dobson, who entered the match seventh in the nation and second in California in kills, added to her total with a front-row attack, then went on a service run that included four consecutive aces and six aces in the Lions’ 9-0 run to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
The third frame was a back-and-forth affair with neither team leading by more than four points. After Etna went ahead 14-12, Big Valley Christian scored four straight to take a one-point lead. Etna responded with four unanswered points, taking an 18-15 advantage. The two sides continued to trade blows until Big Valley took late control with back-to-back points to turn a 20-20 tie into a 22-20 advantage and force an Etna timeout. Out of the break, Big Valley ended the match on a 3-1 run.
The Lions have dropped just two sets in their section and NorCal playoff runs. Camoirano credits their regular season schedule where they played larger schools like Turlock, Oakdale, Granite Bay, Gregori and others in nonleague contests and tournaments.
“We play really tough teams all year long and our league is a tough league,” she said. “When we get to the playoffs, pressure is our friend. We’re used to it.”
No matter what, Tuesday’s match against No. 2 Faith Christian is a rematch of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI title contest, a match the Lions won 3-1. It will also be the final Division VI match in the state, as there is no Southern California bracket. While the other five divisions will pit the North champion against the South to determine a California state champion, only a D-VI NorCal champion will be crowned.
As the top seed in all of NorCal, the Lions did not have to leave their home court through the first round and semifinals, and they won’t have to travel for the championship. They will host the Faith Christian Lions from Yuba City. Big Valley is playing in its first NorCal final since 2021 when it was the No. 2 team and fell to top-seeded Fall River 3-1.
“To be able to play locally, not have to travel, play in your home gym, have your home crowd, it’s huge,” Camoirano said.
Stanislaus District NorCal Semifinals
Division IV
No. 1 Ripon Christian 3, No. 5 Harbor 2: No. 1 Ripon Christian needed all five sets to come out with a 25-22, 26-28, 24-26, 25-18, 15-13 regional semifinals win over visiting Harbor. After falling behind 2-1, the Knights won the next two frames to advance to their third Northern California regional championship in four seasons. Unlike their first two (2022, 2023) the Knights will be at home as the top seed in the Division IV NorCal bracket.
Division V
No. 2 Hilmar 3, No. 3 Escalon 1: Hilmar advanced to its second straight Northern California Regional Final with Saturday’s win over Trans-Valley League foe Escalon, which was in a NorCal final for the first time under third-year head coach Shaylynn Beam. They split the matches during league play, with each going the maximum five sets, and though Escalon won the first set, Hilmar took the rubber match in four competitive sets, 13-25, 27-25, 25-18, 25-23. Escalon’s season ends with an 18-16 overall record while Hilmar advances to play Colusa, which upset No. 1 Sutter in five. Hilmar will host the NorCal championship for the second straight year.
Stanislaus District NorCal Championships
Tuesday, Nov. 18
Division IV
No. 3 Immanuel at No. 1 Ripon Christian, 6 p.m.
Division V
No. 4 Colusa at No. 2 Hilmar, 6 p.m.
This story was originally published November 16, 2025 at 10:58 AM.
