MOUNTAIN VIEW — When Archbishop Mitty visited undefeated St. Francis on Tuesday, it was the primary time the Bay Space’s finest women volleyball groups performed a best-of-five set match towards each other this season.
Every level was closely contested, with spikes by St. Francis’ Erin Curtis barely saved by a diving libero Demi Harris and Sammy Franco blocking a attainable Mitty kill simply sufficient to permit a teammate to get better.
St. Francis’ 3-0 victory was one of the best of Bay Space volleyball, as every set was closely contested.
Although Mitty led by a number of factors in every of the final two units, St. Francis prevailed 25-21, 25-23, 25-23.
If issues go the best way coaches, gamers and colleges need, there might be just a few extra matches between the Central Coast Part powerhouses earlier than the season ends.
For St. Francis senior Havannah Hoeft, these are video games she has been trying ahead to since final season.
“We’ve been prepared for this sport because the summer time — since final 12 months we performed Mitty within the CCS playoffs and NorCal finals,” Hoeft stated concerning the staff that beat St. Francis in a Northern California regional ultimate final season. “This sport means loads to us.”
There might be extra.
Not solely will St. Francis play a West Catholic Athletic League match at Mitty on Oct. 26, however the groups might face off this weekend in a Stockton event.
After that, matches within the CCS and NorCal playoffs might comply with.
“I hope we get to play them 4 extra instances,” stated Mitty coach Jon Wallace, who coached Santa Clara College to 13 NCAA tournaments earlier than taking up the highschool program in 2020. “They’re a completely high quality opponent, and so they’re going to make us higher.”
The packages have wealthy histories within the sport as every has crammed trophy instances with championships after championships.
Within the CCS Open Division playoffs final season, Mitty outlasted St. Francis in 5 units within the semifinals, then swept Menlo College within the ultimate.
The part title was Mitty’s twenty fourth in numerous divisions.
St. Francis has 17 part championships courting to 1976 however none since 2011.
Past the part playoffs, Mitty has appeared in additional state volleyball finals (19) and received extra state championships (14) than any California college.
Reaching that stage this season received’t be straightforward for the San Jose program.
St. Francis has clearly been one of the best staff within the CCS and Bay Space. The Lancers are 19-0 and have two wins over Mitty, together with a two-set sweep of the Monarchs in early September.
Except for Hoeft and Franco, gamers similar to Whitney Wallace and Religion Crouch comprise a staff that makes few errors.
“A few of our gamers might not be seniors, however they have been counted on to play final 12 months,” stated first-year St. Francis coach Lake Merchen, who took over a program that has captured 9 state titles, tied for second behind Mitty. “Them having that have has helped them this 12 months.”
Although it misplaced Tuesday, Mitty’s resume is strong.
The Monarchs (19-5) have performed a brutal schedule, with losses to Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, Mater Dei-Santa Ana and Redondo Union-Redondo Seashore on the Durango Fall Traditional, a nationwide event in Las Vegas.
St. Francis is the one Bay Space staff to beat Mitty.
“I like our schedule,” Wallace stated, “and I like the entire challenges we’ve gone by way of and the way we’ve grown.”
One of many gamers Wallace spotlighted was Audrey Liddle, an out of doors hitter who each blocked and attacked with equal enthusiasm towards St. Francis. One other was Demi Harris, whom Wallace known as a steadying presence on the ground.
“We give a whole lot of accountability to our liberos, and Demi has achieved a tremendous job for us,” Wallace stated. “She’s simply been so regular, holding us in system and holding us believing.”
Merchen and Wallace credited their college’s directors for prioritizing the success of the volleyball packages. The St. Francis fitness center was crammed and energized with cheering spectators Tuesday.
The St. Francis portion quieted within the third set when Mitty took a 17-14 lead and appeared able to drive a fourth set.
The silence transitioned right into a murmur, then mild clapping, then full-blown cheers as St. Francis rallied and confirmed why it has misplaced just one set this season.
The St. Francis gamers don’t count on their subsequent matchup towards Mitty, which might are available in Stockton on Saturday, to be any more easy.
“We’re each good groups, and we’ll each progress as we undergo the season,” Hoeft stated. “I believe enjoying them once more will make us a greater staff.”
