NorCal Issue 225, November 2023 by Sport Stars Magazine

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Morgan Cheli

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See The Show

Mitty May Be That Good

s we prepared for our basketball preview coverage in this issue, there was never any doubt who was going to be featured on the cover. The Archbishop Mitty girls are the top story for this season. In fact, the Monarchs are The Show. If you call yourself a fan of basketball, boys or girls, you owe it to yourself to buy a ticket to see the Monarchs this season. As you’ll read in my story beginning on page 8, they have one of the top seniors in the country and one of the top sophomores in the country. (Those happen to be the two players on the front of this issue by the way, Morgan Cheli and McKenna Woliczko.) Mitty’s talent doesn’t stop there, either. They’ve got more college-bound seniors among their nine returning players and have rising underclassmen as well. It’s not often a potential National No. 1 team — with a pair of Team USA gold medalists — plays in one’s backyard. So don’t squander the opportunity. Also, if the reason you choose not to see them is because you don’t want to see a blowout win, you can shelf that thought. The talent level in NorCal girls basketball right now is extremely high, and there are a decent number of teams that should be able to run with the Monarchs if they bring their ‘A’ game on any certain night. I happened to see three of them in a round-robin scrimmage on Nov. 18. I watched Acalanes-Lafayette actually defeat Mitty in a 16-minute game that day. And Folsom, who will begin as our No. 2-ranked team in NorCal (see all of our Top 20 on P. 12), was tied with Mitty with two minutes left in their scrimmage. The Monarchs eventually won 34-30. Unfortunately, Mitty won’t be part of the West Coast Jamboree this December. That means that the best chance for East Bay (and North Bay) fans to see the Monarches will be at the Bishop O’Dowd MLK Event on Jan. 15 and the Carondelet SI20 Showcase on Jan. 20. South Bay fans should have multiple opportunities during the West Catholic Athletic League schedule. My mom was a girls basketball coach for several years and happens to be an unabashed fan of the UConn women’s basketball team. Morgan Cheli is a UConn signee. I’m going to make sure my mom makes it to a game. Don’t take greatness for granted. ✪

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11.13.15 Sacramento High basketball players Solomon Young, left, and Christian Terrell pose during a SportStars photo shoot on the Tower Bridge in downtown Sacramento. Young went on to a four-year career at Iowa State. Christian Terrell completed his college career at Sacramento State and is now a member of the NBA G League’s Stockton Kings (along with fellow former NorCal standouts Jordan Ford of Folsom and James Akinjo of Salesian-Richmond). James K. Leash photo Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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NCVA Shares Tips To Make Volleyball Players More Recruitable he fall season can be an emotional rollercoaster for an unsigned/uncommitted senior volleyball athlete (and for juniors in the same situation). As the author of CollegeVolleyballCoach. com, I receive numerous emails from volleyball families who are a bit panicked because college coaches are telling them they are done recruiting, or not responding at all. Families must remember that this is the most important time of the year for college volleyball coaches; the collegiate playing season. College coaches are trying to not get fired, to secure a raise, get a contract, or pushing for a great record so they have the opportunity to move up the job ranks, etc. While recruiting never ends, the coach’s focus is almost exclusively on the players in the gym and achieving the best possible season right now. As the collegiate playing season comes to a close, the collegiate recruiting season starts. College volleyball programs will have immediate roster spots and scholarship positions to fill for seniors and juniors. From NCAA Division I to junior colleges, injuries, academics, homesickness, playing-time issues or job changes can all create immediate roster spots and scholarship opportunities which may not have been available one month ago. The active collegiate recruiting season begins in late November, when the collegiate seasons come to a close. Make sure you are ready to be recruited. Be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center and have your NCAA ID number listed on all your recruiting literature/profile. If you are a junior or a senior, have a current copy of your high school transcript and ACT or SAT test score ready to send to colleges. Use the small window of time between the end of high school volleyball and the start of club volleyball to address any injuries or physical issues. Rest does not fix problems, it only masks them. As a senior, you need to be at the top of your game early in the club season. College coaches are looking to make immediate recruiting decisions on seniors, so you don’t have time to play your way into shape. Use practice to improve your weaknesses, but always play to your strengths in early tournaments: Show your best skills to watching college coaches. Re-examine your list of outreach schools. If you have been contacting a certain level of program and no school is getting back to you, then it is time to adjust. Responses or lack of responses from a grouping of schools, provides valuable feedback. Create a five-minute highlight or skills video of your most recent court time to have available for coaches. Don’t show clips/repetitions from September of your high school season, as it will be too old. Film the last matches of high school, or better yet, film the first few club volleyball practices. Stay active in your outreach to colleges and communication. Roster openings will be occurring all through the holidays. Even though you may have already written a school, college coaches don’t go back through all of their emails when they have an opening; they respond to the next incoming email. There is still time on the recruiting clock for seniors (and definitely juniors), but no more time to let slip by. Use these next couple of weeks to prepare for the opening of the collegiate recruiting season. ✪ — Matt Sonnichsen for NCVA

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Mitty players crowd around Coach Sue Phillips as she draws up a play during a round-robin scrimmage at Acalanes on Nov. 18; Sue Phillips is one of state’s winningest girls basketball coaches; Belle Bramer gets a shot off in traffic against Cardinal Newman during a scrimmage; Bucknell commit Elana Weisman attacks the basket during the CIF Open Division final against Etiwanda last March.

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This time last year, McKenna Woliczko was simply a freshman trying to make a big enough impression to be considered for the Archbishop Mitty High varsity team. Just get into the varsity gym, and stay there. A lot has happened since then. She … made the varsity team. … earned All-Tournament at the Nike TOC. … averaged a double-double of 20.2 points and 10 rebounds per game in leading the San Jose school to West Catholic Athletic League, Central Coast Section and CIF NorCal Open Division titles. … was named CalHiSports.com’s State Freshman of the Year in addition to 1st-Team All-State Elite. … made the U16 Youth National Team and nearly averaged a double-double in leading Team USA to gold in the FIBA America’s Cup. “We honestly had no expectations … She’s only been playing competitively for a little over two years,” Wolizcko’s dad said. Aaron Woliczko played collegiately for the University of Pacific and was an NAIA men’s basketball coach at Montana Tech before eventually returning to California where he now works for the West Coast Conference. “I was a college basketball coach so she grew up in the gym. But she had just played rec league with the boys and didn’t start playing AAU until seventh grade. It’s one of those things that is so shocking. She just keeps getting better and better.” ◆◆◆ This time last year, Morgan Cheli was a nationally-ranked 2024 recruit — with her own Team USA credentials — simply trying to stay positive as she worked her way back from injury. She watched as Wolizcko made her impression. “I saw her and thought, ‘Wow! She’s very athletic, tall, great hands, coordinated. She’s going to be fun to pass to,’” the now senior said with a big smile. Cheli has no problem smiling these days. She made her way back into action for the Monarchs’ last 10 or so games, which ended with a gutting 69-67 loss to Etiwanda in the Open Division state championship game. She’s been back to full speed for some time and has a chance to wrap up her four-year Monarchs career with a historic season — before her next chapter at UConn begins. Cheli and Woliczko (pronounced “va-litch-ko”) are the gold-medalist centerpieces on a team that has the potential to be one of Coach Sue Phillips’ most dominant groups. Which is saying a ton considering she’s tallied more than 750 wins in her 28 years running the program. The national media certainly thinks so, though. Mitty will begin the 2023-24 season in the Top 5 of at least two notable national rankings. MaxPreps.com lists them No. 4 in the country and the Sports Illustrated/SBLive.com rankings have the Monarchs at No. 5. Both sites have Etiwanda at No. 2, notably. So, things are a little bit different for McKenna Woliczko as she begins her second year with the program. Not as different as one might think, though. High expectations are the norm when one’s a Monarch. “I think we have the same mindset to begin this season as we did last year,” McKenna Woliczko said on the afternoon of Nov. 18 following a round-robin scrimmage with Folsom, Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa and host Acalanes in Lafayette. All three teams which will open the new season ranked among NorCal’s Top 10. “It’s the beginning of the year, so it’s hard to say what’s going to happen. It was great to get in these scrimmages today, just to see how we can progress for the future.” The Monarchs went 2-1 in the scrimmage, dropping their first 16-minute game against Acalanes before topping Cardinal Newman and Folsom to close the day. ◆◆◆ Mitty’s roster is slightly younger than it was a season ago, but still has nine returning players. In addition to Cheli and Woliczko, Elana Weisman is a 6-foot-1 senior who is signed to play for Bucknell and Belle Bramer (also a 6-1 senior) is committed to Lehigh. Bramer missed all of last season rehabbing an injury. The underclassmen filling out the roster rise from a JV team that went 22-0 last season. “We have so many strengths,” Cheli said. “All of us bring something different to the team. Now we’re just working on figuring out how to work together, and our synergy. I think we could be really great. I’m excited.” Cheli’s leadership is evident on the floor. Even on a team full of next-level talent, the gravity of senior leadership is paramount. The importance certainly isn’t lost on Woliczko. “Playing with Morgan is a bragging right,” McKenna said. “She’s a competitor. She pushes you every practice, every game. She’s going to hold you to the standard that she knows you should be at.” That standard has certainly changed for the 6-1 sophomore between this year and last. Her resume is slightly more decorated to open this season. “Expectations are put on by others,” Aaron Woliczko said. “She just needs to control what she can control.” The same can be said for the Monarchs. Phillips has built her typically challenging schedule full of nationally- and state-ranked opponents. Taking care of business at the right tournaments and controlling what they can control throughout should put them in the conversation for the nation’s top ranking at the end of the season. More importantly, it should leave Mitty battle-tested and ready to win the program’s first CIF Open Division crown and first overall state title since 2015. The moments shouldn’t be too big for this team. So many of the Monarchs have experienced elite competition on big stages before. It might end up being harder on Aaron Woliczko, actually. “I try to detach being a dad from being a basketball coach,” he said with a smile. “I just make sure she knows that I love watching her play.” ✪ — Story by Chace Bryson | Photos by Dave Gershon and Chace Bryson Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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NorCal Girls Preseason

Top 20 it’s mitty and everybody else

1. ARCHBISHOP MITTY-SAN JOSE (28-3 LAST SEASON): In the Top 5 of most preseason national polls, Mitty’s roster starts with USA Basketball gold medalists Morgan Cheli and McKenna Woliczko. Cheli has committed to UConn and Woliczko will go wherever she wants to — she’s just a sophomore. Adding to Mitty’s size and talent is 6-1 Elana Weisman, who will play for Bucknell next year, and 6-1 Belle Bramer, who’s committed to Lehigh. On top of that quartet, five other returners will join them on the 2023-24 roster, plus the usual haul of incoming freshmen talent and promotions from the undefeated JV team (22-0 last season) And finally, of course, there’s Sue Phillips on the sidelines, who has created the most enduring dynasty in the history of Northern California women’s basketball, and shows no signs of slowing down. She’s a decorated USA Basketball coach with four international gold medals, and has won 761 games in 28 years at Archbishop Mitty. Expect her to win a lot more this season. 2. FOLSOM (26-3): Folsom or St. Mary’s? St. Mary’s or Folsom? The two Sac-Joaquin Section powerhouses have played three times in the last two years, and though Folsom has won all three, the total point differential was 10. Still, that’s why the Bulldogs get the nod for the No. 2 spot, as they return all but a few players from last year’s NorCal Open team. Those familiar faces are led by Cal-signee Kamryn Mafua, and though Ella Uriarte will also get lots of attention, Folsom’s depth is one of its great strengths.

3. ST. MARY’S-STOCKTON (26-10): Don’t be fooled by the 10 losses. Coach Alle Moreno, a St. Mary’s alum, plays anyone at any time and counts on that experience paying dividends in postseason. It also doesn’t hurt to have last year’s SportStars’ NorCal Player of the Year, Jordan Lee (a Texas commit) back for her senior season. The Rams did lose a significant amount of talent to graduation. However, a strong freshman class and a couple of potentially-signifcant transfers should keep the Rams among NorCal’s elite.

Kamryn Mafua can score from anywhere on the floor for the Bulldogs. She averaged nearly 17 points per game as a junior. 12

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Jordan Lee averaged more than 20 points per game last season, which included an epic 47-point effort in the CIF NorCal Division I final against Oakland Tech. November 2023

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4. CARDINAL NEWMAN-SANTA ROSA (27-8): Monica Mertle’s perennial powerhouse dominates North Bay basketball, and if Brazilian import Taissa Querioz is granted eligibility by the North Coast Section, that domination may extend a lot further. But even if Quieroz doesn’t play, the deep, skilled, aggressive and talented Cardinals — led by Kate Schat — will be tough for any opponent to handle.

5. SAN RAMON VALLEY-DANVILLE (28-5): It took a few years for Jon Cristiano to put his program in place, but once established, the Wolves have taken permanent residence in the NorCal Top 10. And with Sierra Chambers and Sofia Bowes back, along with almost everyone else, don’t expect any dropoff in 2023-24. San Ramon Valley’s horde of seniors know this is their last go-round, so don’t be surprised if the postseason run is deeper than expected.

No. 4 Cardinal Newman: Junior Kate Schat returns to the Cardinals this season after averaging more than 15 points per game as a sophomore last season.

No. 5 SRV Sierra Chambers was a SportStars’ All-NorCal selection following the 2022-23 season. She averaged 8.2 assists per game.

6. ANTELOPE (26-5): Fast? Check. Athletic? Check. Deep? Check. This might just be Sean Chambers’ best team at Antelope, and he’s had some awfully good ones in his time there. This year, the Philippine pro basketball legend can call on Kameri Charlo, Michelle Rice and Isabella Azzolino to lead the way. The issue will be getting past Folsom and St. Mary’s, among others, in a very competitive Sac-Joaquin Section. 7. ACALANES-LAFAYETTE (21-8): Margaret Gartner spent more than a quarter of a century in charge of a powerhouse Carondelet program, and she’s working the same magic at Acalanes. Juniors Dulci Vail and KK Lacanle lead a quick, pesky, uptempo team that plays annoying (in a good way) defense and shoots plenty of 3s. The issue in Lafayette is depth, but as long as everyone’s healthy, the Dons can play with anyone. 8. BISHOP O’DOWD-OAKLAND (20-9): Every one of the Dragons’ NorCal losses was to a ranked team, and a young O’Dowd team learned a lot of hard lessons along the way. This year, the Dragons are still young, but led by Devin Cosgriff, this extremely athletic team will only be better. That’s not good news for the rest of North Coast Section. 9. CARONDELET-CONCORD (23-8): Lehigh-bound Keshia Vitalicio will carry a heavy load at the point for Carondelet, and otherwise the Cougars are deep and skilled. As always, they’ll shoot well, and the 2-2-1 press will be as deadly as ever. However, a lack of size could cause problems in certain matchups. 10. MCCLATCHY-SACRAMENTO (25-7): Junior Nina Cain gets most of the media attention, but Norret Lewis and a host of returners put McClatchy firmly in the mix with Folsom, St. Mary’s and Antelope in the Sac-Joaquin Section. Cain averaged 19.4 points and 8.8 rebounds last year and can be expected to do even better this time around. Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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THE NEXT 10 11. Oakland Tech (30-5) 12. Pinewood-Los Altos Hills (17-12) 13. Pleasant Valley-Chico (30-4) 14. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (19-11) 15. Salesian-Richmond (27-5) 16. Sacred Heart Cathedral (21-6) 17. Vanden-Fairfield (25-8) 18. Piedmont (27-1) 19. Moreau Catholic-Hayward (21-10) 20. Evergreen Valley-San Jose (20-8)

KK Lacanlale will lead an extremely active Acalanes backcourt that can both drive and shoot the 3.

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NorCal boys Preseason

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20 1. ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN- S.F. (23-7 LAST SEASON): A pretty consistent choice as NorCal’s preseason favorite, the Crusaders may have as many as eight nextlevel players on their stacked roster. The talented core includes Jasir Rencher, Zion Sensley, Jory McKenzie and Andrew Hilman. Riordan returns as the Central Coast Section’s defending Open Division champion. In fact, its postseason run may have looked quite a bit different if the Crusaders could’ve avoided a multi-player scuffle during a CIF NorCal regional quarterfinal at Inderkum-Sacramento. That altercation led to five suspensions, including three starters, and losing out on a chance to host the regional semifinal against Granada. Instead, Riordan went on the road with just eight players in uniform and lost. This year’s group begins as CalHiSports.com’s No. 8-ranked team in the state. It opens the season by facing No. 4 Roosevelt-Eastvale at the NorCal Tip-Off Classic on Nov. 25. 14

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2. DE LA SALLE-CONCORD (22-9): Much like how the arrival of transfer Jaden Hudson unlocked the full potential of last year’s Dougherty Valley-San Ramon team, a similar opportunity exists for the Spartans this season. Coach Marcus Schroeder has returning SportStars’ All-NorCal and CalHiSports.com All-State junior Alec Blair back for his third year along with a number of other key returners from last season’s NCS Open Div. runners-up team. As for that shot-in-the-arm addition, De La Salle will add a pair of 6-foot7 transfers in David Balogun (Cornerstone Christian-Antioch) and Braddock Kjellesvig (Christopher-Gilroy). The Spartans open against the state’s No. 6-ranked team, Centennial-Corona.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Riordan’s Andrew Holman was an impact freshman for the Crusaders last season and will carry much larger expectations in 2023-24; Amani Johnson is among three returning starters for No. 3 Salesian; Alec Blair is beginning his third season as a varsity starter for No. 2 De La Salle. Always More To Read at SportStarsMag.com

3. SALESIAN-RICHMOND (26-9): SportStars’ All-NorCal selection from last season, Aaron Claytor, leads a roster that includes six of the top seven performers from last season’s CIF NorCal Div. I finalist. Joining Claytor is two-time All-State Underclass honoree, Amani Johnson, and Alvin Loving IV (who was also an All-State Underclass selection last season). Furthermore, be on the lookout for a breakout season from highly-regarded 6-foot-3 sophomore, Elias Obenyah. 4. BRANSON-ROSS (28-4): The Bulls are two-time defending NCS Div. III champions. However, if the preseason polls are any indication, this program will be making its Open Division debut in 2023-24. Coach Demetrius Roquemore has four returning starters and eight returners overall. This year’s squad will be led by Illinois commit Jase Butler, a 6-foot-4 physical guard who should have no trouble enduring the rigors of Big Ten basketball. Pair him with the speedy junior Semetri Carr, and you have one of NorCal’s best backcourts. 5. ARCHBISHOP MITTY-SAN JOSE (21-6): Returning All-West Catholic Athletic League forward Gavin Ripp and UC Riverside-bound guard Tyler Jones lead the way for a Monarchs team that should push Riordan for the league title. Last year the two teams ended up cochamps during the regular season. In addition to Ripp and Jones, the team returns a third starter in guard Nathan Noronha. 6. SAN RAMON VALLEY-DANVILLE (26-8): The Wolves announced their presence with authority early last season behind a 13-1 start — and then never really slowed down. They won’t sneak up on anyone this season, but it may not matter. San Ramon Valley only graduated four seniors from last year’s squad. SportStars’ All-NorCal selection Seamus Deely returns as does Luke Isaak. 7. MODESTO CHRISTIAN (27-7): Despite a few more unknowns than usual, the Crusaders still found themselves inside the Top 25 of the CalHiSports.com Preseason State Rankings. Rashad Cotton Jr. is the team’s only returning starter but he should get help from a slew of talented transfers that includes Myles Jones, Gavin Sykes, Marcus Washington and Ryan Atkins. The shortest of those four players is 6-3. So look for a surge at the tail end of tournament season when the sit-out period concludes. 8. WESTON RANCH-STOCKTON (19-11): Coach Nicholas Podesta’s team pulled off one of the most impressive in-season turnarounds in recent memory last season when they started 2-9 before rallying to reach the Div. I semifinals of both the Sac-Joaquin Section and CIF Northern Regional playoffs. The Cougars have plenty of returning talent, but also add high-scoring transfer Mateen Rafiq, from El Camino-Sacramento. 9. MONTEREY TRAIL-ELK GROVE (15-14): There’s a lot to like about the Mustangs this season, which is why they sneak into the upper half of our Top 20. Returning talent for Coach Rob Fields includes the duo of Brandon Gibson Jr. and Damarion Vann-Kelly. Monterey Trail will also feature Rashawn Inglemon and Derron White. 10. LINCOLN-STOCKTON (25-5): All kinds of firepower returns for the Trojans this season. That includes top scorers Anthony Moore (14.7 points per game), Dorez Lindsay (13.2 ppg) and Quentin Thompson (10 ppg). The team will also reap the rewards of former Modesto Christian player Zeke Davis (6-3, Jr.).

THE NEXT 10 11. Vanden-Fairfield (25-11) 12. Dublin (18-12) 13. Capital Christian-Sacramento (20-9) 14. Jesuit-Carmicahel (26-6) 15. St. Ignatius-S.F. (14-14) 16. Clayton Valley-Concord (26-5) 17. Rocklin (14-16) 18. Oakland (27-8) 19. Folsom (26-4) 20. Sheldon (14-14) Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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Toa Fa’avae

Despite Two Major Challenges From San Ramon Valley, De La Salle Football Maintains Its Three-Plus Decade Tradition Of Excellence Over The North Coast Section

resented without context, the numbers associated with the De La Salle-Concord football team’s dominance of its own backyard never cease to amaze. 31 straight North Coast Section titles. 38 total section titles. A 271-game unbeaten streak against section teams over that span. Now add the context, and the Spartans’ collective feats of strength become even more impressive. Having battled De La Salle to overtime earlier in the season, San Ramon Valley-Danville figured to be the primary candidate to end those lofty streaks this year. The Wolves again had their chances to be that team, but on a damp night at Dublin High, two Toa Fa’avae touchdown runs and a game full of quality defense proved the difference as the Spartans won, 17-7. In the era of teams chasing state championships, section titles sometimes get lost. Not for the Spartans. “My brother’s in the stands right now and he was on the ‘92 team that started it. A couple guys on the staff, I played with, and a couple guys on our staff I coached. It means a lot to uphold tradition,” said head coach Justin Alumbaugh. “(San Ramon Valley) is a very good team. Those guys are really good. They’re definitely one of the better teams we’ve played in this championship game. “It means a lot to me to uphold tradition. That’s why I’m here. I’m a product of the tradition.” That tradition translates to some fairly mind-boggling historical benchmarks. In claiming its 38th section title, De La Salle moved ahead of Bakersfield for the most California Interscholastic Federation section titles of any football team in the state, according to CalHiSports.com.

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When it comes to all sports statewide, the 31-straight section titles ties De La Salle with Bellarmine-San Jose’s 31 consecutive boys swimming titles (1985-2016), and they both trail Poway’s still-active wrestling section title streak of 42. In between the lines, the script remains largely the same as it always has for De La Salle. Trailing 10-7 late in the third quarter, the Spartans (10-2) took the ball on their own 7-yard line and went to work on the ground. A 13-play, 93-yard drive — all runs — ended with a 15-yard touchdown by Fa’avae and put De La Salle ahead. After the De La Salle defense held, the Spartans put the finishing touches on the game, this time going 54 yards in 11 plays and scoring on a 14-yard run by Fa’avae. “It means that we’re here every year. You come to De La Salle not just to play regular football but to win state championships,” Fa’avae said. “The higher and higher you move into the playoffs, the bigger deal it is, but we take every game as serious as we take the next. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing.” No matter how lofty their aspirations, it would have been hard for the Spartans to overlook the opponent on this occasion. That’s because San Ramon Valley pushed De La Salle to overtime in their first meeting of the season, an eventual 33-27 Spartans win. For three quarters this time, the Wolves looked in prime position to be the team that made history by ending another notable streak. After senior quarterback Luke Baker rushed for 181 yards in the first meeting, De La Salle paid particular attention to limiting his ability to scramble. That plan certainly worked, but a 33-yard touchdown pass from Baker to Evan Economos with 24 seconds left in the first half gave San Ramon Valley a 7-3 lead at intermission. Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

Drew Cunningham That was all the Spartans allowed. Because of De La Salle’s ability to increase the physicality offensively, San Ramon Valley got only four possessions in the second half, and they resulted in a missed field goal, punt and two turnovers on downs. “We just stayed more disciplined in our coverages and more disciplined in taking care of business and getting to the quarterback,” linebacker Drew Cunningham said of the adjustments from game one to game two. “Hell of a job by the defensive line, closing up gaps, staying disciplined in their alignments and their assignments. That made it a lot easier, and once he broke out of the pocket, there were 11 hats on the ball getting to him.” Growth on defense has been the linchpin of this particuFollow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

lar title run for the Spartans. De La Salle has allowed only 14 points per game this season, but subtract the first two games of the season — the Spartans only losses — and that number drops to 10.7 during a 10-game winning streak. “We’re just a much more physical team across the board,” Alumbaugh said. “Still not a lot of flash and all that stuff. Play really good special teams, play really good defense, be physical on O and try to wear teams out. That’s our MO. That’s how we’ve got to be.” The win qualified De La Salle for yet another California Interscholastic Federation Northern Regional game berth. The Spartans no doubt entered into the later stages of the postseason with plenty of confidence given the fact that their success hasn’t come just against NCS competition.

Wins over Folsom, St. Mary’s-Stockton, St. Francis, McClymonds and San Ramon Valley have De La Salle firmly established right behind Serra-San Mateo in the NorCal hierarchy. “Obviously the main goal is state, but by all means this is a huge step in the direction of state,” Cunningham said. “We don’t care about the streak, we don’t care about the numbers. We just know it’s another big game against a tough opponent and we need to execute.” That forward vision is understandable given the time of year. But, by securing yet another NCS title, the 2023 Spartans have already made one contribution to a tradition all their own. ✪ — Story & Photos by Ben Enos

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With Come From Behind Win Over Marin Catholic, Foothill Volleyball Snapped A Four Game Skid In NCS Finals Appearances — And Solidified The Legacy Of A Resilient Group Of Seniors

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atie Salonga fully admitted to take it to them.” not having got the best night of It was a kill by sophomore Paige Nelsleep the night before the North son that broke a 5-5 tie in the fourth Coast Section Division I Girls Volleyset, and the Falcons would never trail ball Championship match. in either set the rest of the way. Foothill The Foothill High four-year setter went on to tie the match with a 25-20 and her team was returning to the NCS set win. It then rolled to a 15-7 victory finals after losing the same championin a deciding set that was also tied at 5-5 ship game a season ago. It was the probefore the team pulled away with five gram’s fourth runner-up finish during unanswered points. a 13-year title drought dating back to The win secured the program’s third 2010. section title, and according to Collins, There was a lot to think about. puts this team right on par with some of Salonga flashed a big grin when the best teams of his 27-year tenure at asked about the amount or rest she got. the Pleasanton school. “Not great,” she said. “I was a little “It’s one of the tops, obviously,” Colnervous. I was thinking about it. I was lins said. “We’ve talked with them about like, ‘Wow. I can’t believe it’s here althe 2006 team that got all the way to ready.’ I’m not ready for this season to the state championship and was 38-0 be over.” (before losing the final). This team Salonga’s last ride with the Falcons is ranked with that team. To get the eventually ended — but not before amount of wins we’ve gotten in a row her teammates hung the school’s first here. ... To pull out some of the matches NCS championship banner in more they’ve won. ... They can get this done.” than a decade. Foothill topped Marin Salonga and Bennett are the engine Catholic-Kentfield in five sets to claim that makes it all go. Both have been on the Div. I title on Nov. 4 in Pleasanton. LEFT: Katie Salonga elevates for a set during pregame warmups prior to the varsity since a 2020-21 freshman season The Falcons would go 1-1 in the Calichampionship match against Marin Catholic. fornia Interscholastic Federation Open RIGHT: Paige Bennett was Foothill’s top finisher this season, logging more than 500 kills that was played in the spring as NCS Division regionals and finish the season sports returned from COVID. and averaging nearly five per set. 37-2 overall. The NCS championship performance While there was no state finals run, included several heroes for the Falcons, but the biggest points of the match always seemed to the NCS title was the thing. It was the crowning achievement for a senior class (there were six involve Salonga or Bennett. on the Falcons) which endured a four-year career full of ups, downs and pandemic-related “Paige and I have played together ever since we were babies, different sports through the frustrations. years,” said Salonga, who finished with 51 assists on the night — 22 of them resulting in BenBut that achievement didn’t come easily. nett kills. “We have great chemistry and we’ve been learning to work with each other since we Salonga and her teammates had to rise to the challenge after Marin Catholic won back-to- were 4. So it’s great. back sets to take a 2-1 lead in the championship tilt Bennett shared similar sentiments about her setter, but widened the scope too. When asked Foothill took the opening set 25-23 before Marin Catholic grabbed the momentum with why it was this particular team that broke through for the title, she spoke of the bond between 27-25 and 25-17 wins in Sets 2 and 3. As the Falcons players returned to their bench, longtime all 14 players. Foothill volleyball coach Dusty Collins did his best to remind them that this situation wasn’t “I think we’re just super connected on and off the court,” she said. “We’re just one unit and new to them. we work together really well. We communicate with each other. We just flow.” “I tried to just calm them down and make them realize that we’ve been in tough situations Seven different Falcons had kills against Marin Catholic, three reached double figures. In before,” Collins said. “We were down 0-2 twice in a row in our league playoffs and had to come addition to Bennett’s 22, junior Kaycie Burdick had 14 and senior Nisa Kincaid had 10. back and win three in a row. So I said, ‘That was worse than this. At least it’s just 2-1.’ ... We While being proud and happy for all the girls, Collins was particularly thrilled for those knew we could play better in our serve and our passing game too.” seniors who had suffered through championship and big-game losses in recent seasons. Senior outside hitter Paige Bennett had similar thoughts as she stood in the huddle and “I told them when we walked off the court a couple times after losses, ‘We’re going to walk listened to Collins. off the court together having won one of these big ones,’” the coach said. “It was fun to do “I thought to myself that this is why we get five sets. We’re going to get it done; we’re going to tonight. ” ✪ pull it through,” Bennett said. “We were a little ticked off by that third set, so we were ready to — Story & Photos by Chace Bryson

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