El Mo victory a product of outstanding team chemistry
“Make a plan and follow through.”
That has been the mantra for the El Molino boys volleyball team in a remarkable 2017 campaign, a season that culminated with a three-set win over first-place Redwood on Thursday night to capture a share of the Marin County Athletic League championship.
The historic victory did not come easily, as the Lions fought off every challenge to win in four electrifying sets; 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 25-22.
The result moved the Lions and Giants into a tie in the final MCAL standings with identical 13-1 records, pushing El Molino’s overall mark to 20-8.
The Lions will represent the top seed in the upcoming league playoff tournament next week (schedule TBA) by virtue of a higher tie-breaker number drawn prior to the league season.
The emotional victory also gave the Lions their first MCAL title since 2009, when the team went on to claim the North Coast Section Division 3 championship.
“This win is hard to put into words,” said El Mo’s Bob Geissinger, the only coach in the program’s 11-year history. “You get emotional when a team is such a tight-knit group and works so hard. “I told our guys before the fourth set, ‘We’re 25 points away from winning a championship,’ and they responded.”
The Lions came into the league finale trailing the Giants by one match, needing a win to secure no worse than a co-championship.
El Molino took care of business, calling on pride, poise and Jordan Kerkvliet. The 6’ 9” senior outside hitter turned in a spectacular MVP performance, dominating the net with a display of power and finesse that would prove the difference in a battle of titans.
“What makes this team so special is our chemistry,” Kerkvliet said moments after the match. “We’re all really close, work so hard and our practices are amazing. We’re looking forward to the playoffs.”
Lions persevere
El Molino took charge from the opening whistle against Redwood, a team that had handed the Lions a four-set loss in their first season meeting in Larkspur last month.
Kerkvliet, along with sophomore outside hitter Mac Osman, senior setter Alex Sanchez, junior middle-blocker Brandon Oxsen, senior outside hitter Levon Eral, sophomore outside hitter Jacob Sani and defenders Eduardo Rodriguez and Klint Olsen, showed grit and determination throughout, refusing to give in to adversity.
The Lions came out on fire, reeling off several points to take a commanding early lead, before holding the Giants off late to claim a 25-23 opening-set win. Redwood seized momentum in game two, taking a lead they would not relinquish in cruising to a 25-17 win. But the Lions didn’t flinch, as Kerkvliet mounted a ferocious net attack that would fuel a late run to produce a critical 26-24 win in game three.
“Jordan was great, but how about our other outside hitters,” Geissinger said later. “They really stepped up and got the job done.”
The teams ratcheted up the intensity in the decisive fourth set, as the Lions fought off several Redwood runs to win the game and match, 25-22.
