SCL champs Tigers land #2 seed in Div. 3; Lions seeded 13th in Div. 4
Local high school volleyball teams will ratchet up the intensity level this week as Analy and El Molino take the court in their respective North Coast Section divisional tournaments.
The newly crowned Sonoma County League champion Tigers (11-1, 20-7) were awarded the #2 seed in the NCS Division 3 tournament, opening up with a first-round home match against #15 Hercules on Oct. 31 (7 p.m.). Should Analy win as expected, it will host the winner of the #7 Terra Linda vs. #10 Alhambra match on Saturday, Nov. 4 (time TBA).
The #2 seed is a very favorable spot for the Tigers, guaranteeing them a home-court advantage until they reach the finals.
“We’re very happy to have a home match for NCS,” Tigers head coach Holly Folendorf said on Monday.
Meanwhile the Lions (2-10, 8-15) landed the #13 seed in the NCS Division 4 tourney, and will travel to face #4 Del Norte in Crescent City on Nov. 1 (7 p.m.). If the Lions can pull the upset, they will advance to play the survivor of the #5 Cardinal Newman vs. #12 St. Joseph Notre Dame match on Nov. 4.
“It’s unbelievable that we have to travel to the northernmost California high school two years in a row, but we’re excited to make playoffs two years in a row,” El Mo coach Becky Sani said. “It’s a long 7-hour drive up to Crescent City but we’ll make the best of it.”
Tigers capture SCL title
Analy clinched their first league title in several years last week with three straight wins to close out the schedule, starting with an Oct. 24 Senior Night victory over visiting Piner; 25-19, 26-24, 25-12. Statistical leaders included Ava Ehnes (20 kills, 14 digs) and Maddie Windsor (12 digs, 26 assists.
The Tigers traveled to Sonoma Valley the following night, scoring a critical win over the Dragons in four sets; 25-22, 15-25, 25-20, 25-23. Pacing the attack were Ehnes (20 kills, 8 aces, 15 digs), Claire Rudderow (13 kills, 15 digs), Sabrina Stephens (18 digs, 4 aces) and Vivi Vigil (16 digs).
Analy closed out a 12-1 league season at Elsie Allen on Oct. 26, easily winning in straight sets; 25-10, 25-21, 25-8. Stat leaders were Bella Nadler (7 kills), Rudderow (9 kills), Bree Scott (6 aces), Sara Davidson (5 aces) and Stephens (5 aces).
Lions gains split
El Molino began their final week of SCL action on Senior Night on Oct. 21 against Elsie Allen, turning back the Lobos in four sets; 25-17, 25-5, 23-25, 25-8. Tiger Berna led the Lions in kills and digs.
El Mo closed out the league schedule on Oct. 26 at Petaluma, giving the Trojans a battle before falling in straight sets; 18-25, 23-25, 26-28.
“We lost in three games but it was the best we’ve played all year,” coach Becky Sani said. “It was really nice to hear from the Petaluma coach that he thought our team had made a huge improvement since the first time we had played them and he was very surprised at our offensive threat.”
Top players for the Lions included Senal, middle blocker Sara Flores, Berna (11 digs), libero Grace Anderson (12 digs) and setter Kassidy Sani (14 assists, 14 digs).
