Past Season Highlights and Results
Girl's Volleyball 2023-2024 Season
Panthers’ Season Comes to an End at Head-Royce
October 28, 2023—On a Saturday evening on the campus of Head-Royce High School in Oakland, California, the Varsity Girls Volleyball Team took on the Head-Royce Jayhawks with a chance to punch their ticket to the North Coast Section (NCS) Semifinals. However, it would not be the Panthers night as they would lose to the Jayhawks by the score of 3-0, bringing their 2023-2024 season to a close.
With the loss, the Panthers head into an offseason where they will lose 5 key Seniors to graduation that played a major role in the Panthers’ success this season, including winning the program’s 3rd straight Tri County Athletic League Regular Season Title—Jae Vass, Alexa Madrigal, Lucia Greenberg, Ashley Taboada, & Ashley Melendez.
However, despite the Panthers losing these key players that were so instrumental to the program’s success ever since their first year, the Panthers will be returning a great mix of both veteran and young players, looking to run it back for the 2024-2025 and to claim that ever-so-coveted NCS Title that the program has been waiting for a long time. Congratulations on a fantastic season Panthers, and we look forward to next Fall.
Panthers Overcome Early Deficit to Advance to NCS Quarterfinals
October 25, 2023—On the opening night of the Panthers quest for an North Coast Section (NCS) Title, the Varsity Girls Volleyball Team traveled to Santa Rosa to take on the Roseland University Prep Knights in the First Round of the NCS playoffs. In fact, the Panthers would fall behind the Knights by the score of 2-1 until they showed the resiliency and determination that is necessary to make a deep run in NCS, giving them the crucial victories in the 4th and 5th sets and completing the 3-2 comeback victory.
With the victory, the Panthers punched their ticket for the NCS Quarterfinal Round where they will travel to Oakland, CA, to take on the Head-Royce High Jayhawks with the opportunity to punch another ticket to the NCS Semifinal Round. This matchup will also be a rematch from an early season showdown between the Jayhawks and the Panthers where the Jayhawks won a very close contest by the score of 3-2. However, the Panthers will seek revenge this time around and look to keep their hopes of an NCS Title alive.
The Quarterfinal matchup is scheduled for Saturday, October 28th, at 7:00pm.
Panthers Lose TCAL Tourney Championship to Red Hot Bruins, Await NCS Fate
October 18, 2023—On a warm evening on Hagler Court on the campus of Saint Mary’s College High School, the Varsity Girls Volleyball Team played host to the St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins with an opportunity to win a Tri County Athletic League (TCAL) Tournament Title for the second consecutive season.
However, even though the Panthers topped the Bruins on two separate occasions in regular season, beating an opponent for the third time in season is a very difficult task. Unfortunately for the panthers, that saying proved to be true as the Bruins would go on to defeat the Panthers by the score of 3-1, claiming the TCAL Tournament Championship.
Even though the Panthers took early leads in each of the four sets that were played, the Bruins would go on numerous scoring runs in those sets to give them not only firm control of those sets, but ultimately winning the three sets that they needed in order to clinch their championship victory.
Despite the loss, the Panthers will now shift their focus to the opportunity of claiming a North Coast Section (NCS) Title. The team will find out their NCS fate this weekend when the seedings for each team are revealed.
Panthers Punch TCAL Championship Ticket, Sweep Titans 3-0
October 16, 2023—In the Tri County Athletic League (TCAL) Tournament Semifinal game at Hagler Court, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team took on the Hercules High Titans with an opportunity to punch their ticket to the TCAL Tournament Championship Game. Without any doubt, the Panthers did just that as they would go on to sweep the Titans by the score of 3-0.
The Panthers would win each set by double-digit margins, and that had to do with the exceptional play of both the Panthers veteran players, as well as their young studs. Senior, Jae Vass; Juniors, Kameron Bazile and Dallas Faafiu; Sophomore, Kalaya Phung; and the Freshmen duo of Corinne Jones and London Crawford. The trio of Bazile, Faafiu, and Phung proved to be a dominant force at the net as they would combine for multiple blocks and points. The duo of Jones and Crawford also showcased a similar kind of dominance at the net as well, which proved to be too much for the Titans to handle.
With the victory, the Panthers will play host to the Saint Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins in the TCAL Tournament Championship, a team that the Panthers beat in four sets on their Senior Night on October 2nd at Hagler Court. The Panthers will also be looking to win their second straight TCAL Tournament Title as well. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18th, at 6:00pm.
Panthers Avenge Early Season Loss to Capture 3rd Straight Regular Season TCAL Title
October 5, 2023—In what was the most anticipated and arguably the most important match of the regular season, the Varsity Girls Volleyball Team traveled to take on their crosstown rival, the Albany High Cougars, with the Tri-County Athletic League (TCAL) Regular Season Title on the line. However, the spotlight wouldn’t be too bright for the Panthers as they utilized their “been there, done that” attitude to sweep the Cougars in three straight sets, avenging their early season loss to the Cougars and capturing their 3rd straight TCAL Regular Season Title.
The first set of the match would prove to be the closer of the three as the Panthers would win by the narrow margin of 25-22. However, sets two and three would be all Panthers as they would go on to win those sets by the scores of 25-13 and 25-15 respectively, ultimately giving the Panthers the victory and finishing league play with a 9-1 record.
With the victory, the Panthers have also won 15 of their last 16 sets played dating back to Wednesday, September 20th.
The Panthers will now transition into non-league play as they will participate in the “Serve It Up Founders Classic” tournament at Sacred Heart Cathedral High School in San Francisco. The Panthers first match is scheduled for Saturday, October 7th, at 9:30AM.
Panthers Celebrate Senior Day with Crucial League Victory over SPSV
October 2, 2023—On a cool evening on the campus of Saint Mary’s College High School, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team took on the St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins in what would be the Panthers last home game of the regular season. Prior to the matchup, the Panthers also celebrated Senior Day where they honored 5 of their seniors for their dedication and commitment to the volleyball program—Jae Vass, Alexa Madrigal, Lucia Greenberg, Ashley Taboada, and Ashley Melendez.
After the Senior Day festivities concluded and the game was underway, it would be the Bruins who would set the tone earlier as that would win the first set by the score of 25-22. However, that would be the only blemish for the Panthers on the evening as they would go on to win the next three sets by the scores of 25-20, 25-15, and 25-18 respectively. The Panthers had a myriad of contributors that were crucial to this victory as Juniors Kameron Bazile and Dallas Faafiu were dominant at the net by scoring crucial points for the team, Sophomore Kalaya Phung was also pivotal as she recorded multiple kills on the evening, and the Freshmen duo of Corinne Jones and London Crawford proved to be too much for the Bruins as well.
With the victory, the Panthers improve to 8-1 in league, setting themselves up for their biggest game of the season against the Albany High Cougars with first place in the Tri-County Athletic League (TCAL) on the line. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4th, at 7:00pm at Albany High School.
Panthers Handle Titans for 3rd Straight Sweep
September 27, 2023—On a nice Wednesday evening at Hagler Court on the campus of Saint Mary’s College High School, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team played host to the Hercules High Titans, a team that the Panthers beat earlier in the year who was looking for some payback. However, and very similar to their last two games, the Panthers would go on to defeat the Titans in a 3-0 sweep, making it the third consecutive sweep for the team since their victory over El Cerrito last Wednesday, September 20th.
The Panthers were led by Sophomore sensation, Kalaya Phung, who was dominant at the net scoring multiple points for her team, along with Junior, Dallas Faafiu, who showcased a similar dominance of her own. The Freshmen duo of London Crawford and Corinne Jones also proved to be too much the Titans as well, showcasing their own valuable contribution to an already well-talented and veteran group.
With the victory, the Panthers have won their last 9 sets and improve to a 7-1 record in league.
The Panthers will now have a few days off to prepare for their next opponent, the St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins, in yet another critical league matchup. This matchup will also be the Panthers Senior Day game where the team will honor 5 of their Seniors—Jae Vass, Alexa Madrigal, Lucia Greenberg, Ashley Taboada, and Ashley Melendez. The match is scheduled for Monday, October 2nd, at 7:00PM.
Panthers Defeat Jaguars in Second Consecutive Sweep in Back-to-Back Matches
September 25, 2023—After previously sweeping the El Cerrito High Gauchos in their last matchup, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team traveled to Vallejo to take on the Jesse Bethel High Jaguars where they ultimately defeated the Jaguars by the score of 3-0, giving the Panthers back-to-back sweeps in their last two contests.
The Panthers and Jaguars opened the first set by exchanging points and being deadlocked at the score of 4-4. However, the Panthers would then go on an impressive scoring run as they would outscore the Jaguars 21-10 the rest of the set, giving them the early 1-0 lead in the match.
In the second set, the Panthers would start out on fire as they jumped out to an early 9-4 lead. The early lead proved to be insurmountable for the Jaguars as the Panthers would go on to win the second set by the score of 25-18, giving them a commanding 2-0 lead.
In the third set, the Jaguars showed no quit as they would jump out to a quick 5-0 lead, forcing the Panthers to call a timeout to re-focus. After the timeout, the Panthers would have quite a response as they would score 8 out of the next 11 points to tie the third set at the score of 8-8. Both the Panthers and the Jaguars would eventually trade off points, eventually bringing the score to a 16-16 tie. However, the Panthers would eventually gain control down the stretch as they would ultimately win the third and final set by the score of 25-21.
With the victory, the Panthers are 6-1 in Tri-County Athletic League (TCAL) play.
The Panthers will now head home to Hagler Court for their next match against the Hercules High Titans. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, September 27th, at 7pm.
Panthers Lose in Close Matchup to Albany
September 18, 2023—On a Monday evening at Hagler Court on the campus of Saint Mary’s College High School, the Varsity Girls Volleyball Team played host to their crosstown rival, the Albany High Cougars, in a critical Tri-County Athletic League (TCAL) matchup that would give the victor sole control of first place in the league standings.
The Panthers found themselves in full control in the early stages of the game, winning the first two sets thanks to the stellar play of Juniors, Kameron Bazile and Sasha Bartel, and the Freshmen duo of Corinne Jones and London Crawford, allowing the Panthers to establish a 2-0 lead in the match.
With the 2-0 lead, the Panthers had victory in sight. However, the Cougars showcased resilience and determination in the next two sets, allowing them to even the matchup at two games apiece.
With the matchup going into the 5th and final set, there was a lot of exciting and fantastic plays by both the Cougars and the Panthers. Both teams would trade off points and find themselves deadlocked at the score of 8-8. The Panthers would then gain a little bit of momentum, stringing together consecutive points and even giving them a 14-12 lead. However, it would be the Cougars displaying their resilience, yet again, and scoring the next 4 points to win the fifth set by the score of 16-14 and winning the match by the score of 3-2.
The Panthers will now look to return to the win column on Wednesday, September 20th, when they travel to take on long-time rival, the El Cerrito High Gauchos. The match is scheduled for 7:00pm.
Panthers Return to Win Column, Complete Regular Season Sweep of Gauchos
September 20, 2023—In their second straight Tri-County Athletic League matchup of the week, the Panthers traveled to El Cerrito High School to take on the Gauchos for the second time this season. The Gauchos were looking to avenge their early season loss to the Panthers but, however, the Panthers, once again, proved to be too much for their long-time rival as they would go on to win the match by the score of 3-0. This victory would also be the second time that the Panthers have swept the Gauchos this season.
The first set of the match, however, did not have the makings of what would be an eventual sweep for the Panthers as both teams traded off points until the Panthers would pull away with a 25-21 victory. However, the second and third sets proved to be a dominant performance for the Panthers as they would outscore the Gauchos by the grand total of 50-28 in those two sets, ultimately cementing the Panther victory.
The Panthers will now have a few days off before they travel to Vallejo on Monday, September 25th, when they take on the Jesse Bethel Jaguars in yet another Tri-County Athletic League matchup. The match is set for 7:00PM.
Panthers Increase Win Streak to 3 Games with Sweep of Titans
September 11, 2023—On a cool evening on the campus of Hercules High School in Hercules, CA, the Varsity Girls Volleyball Team showcased a dominant effort as they would go on to sweep the Titans by the score of 3-0.
The Panthers, in fact, found themselves down early in both the first and second sets but were able to show off their resilient nature and overcome those early deficits to take the first two sets from the Titans. The third set would be the complete opposite in terms of the Panthers setting the tone early, eventually dominating what would be the final set of the matchup as well, giving them the decisive victory.
The Panthers will now look to extend their win streak to 4 games when they travel to Vallejo to take on their long-time league foe, the St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins, this Wednesday evening. The game time is set for 7:00PM.
Panthers Fall Short to Yellowjackets in Friday Night Showdown
September 1, 2023—In the much anticipated “Battle of Berkeley” showdown between Saint Mary’s and Berkeley High School on Friday evening at Hagler Court, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team fell short to the Yellowjackets in what looked like to be their toughest match in the early stages of the 2023 season.
The first set of the match proved to be a back-and-forth affair between the Panthers and the Yellowjackets, consisting of great rallies and hard-fought points from both sides. Hpwever, the Yellowjackets would eventually win the first set by the score of 25-21, giving them an early 1-0 lead in the match. In the second set, the Panthers would provide quite an answer of their own thanks to the fabulous play of Freshman standout, London Crawford, who provided killer hits every opportunity she got, helping the Panthers win the second set by the score of 25-19, and evening the match at one game apiece.
The third set was another neck-and-neck affair with Sophomore, Kalaya Phung, giving both her team and the Panther crowd the energy it needed thanks to her strong play and her ability to win critical points for her team. Unfortunately, though, Berkeley would find a way to quiet the storm, winning the critical third set by the score of 25-22.
In the fourth and final set, the Panthers came out on fire, giving themselves a 12-5 lead and looking to extend the match to a fifth set. However, the response from the Yellowjackets that was coupled with mistakes from the Panthers, proved to be enough for the Yellowjackets to win the fourth set by the score of 25-20, ultimately giving them the 3-1 victory.
Despite the outcome, the Panthers had a lot of positive moments and important lessons that came from this match that they will not only learn from, but also prove to be beneficial as the season goes along. In fact, the Panthers will look to return to the win column when they play host to fellow TCAL foe, the Jesse Bethel High Jaguars. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6th, at 7:00PM.
Panthers Prove to Be Too Much For Gauchos
August 30, 2023—On a Wednesday evening on Hagler Court on the campus of Saint Mary’s, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team would prove to be dominate from start to finish in their three-game sweep of their course town rival, the El Cerrito High Gauchos, to open Tri-County Athletic League (TCAL) play.
The Panthers were led by Senior, Jae Vass, and Junior, Sasha Bartel, who would string a lot of the Panthers points together thanks to their effective serves that proved to be too much El Cerrito to handle. The Panthers also got a strong showing from Freshman standout, London Crawford, who has made her presence known in the early stages of not only her Freshman season, but also in the early stages of her Saint Mary’s career.
With the victory, the Panthers move to 1-0 in TCAL play and will look to build off of their impressive victory when they play host to the Berkeley High Yellowjackets. Game time is scheduled for Friday, September 1st, at 7:00pm.
Panthers Cruise to 3-0 Sweep in Home Opener
August 25, 2023—In the team’s home opener of the 2023 season at Hagler Court, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team did not disappoint in their performance on Hagler Court, winning in their second straight game in decisive fashion, completing a 3-0 sweep of the Alameda High Hornets. Although there were moments where both teams went back and forth trading of. points, the Panthers were in full control of the match right from the get-go. The Panthers would win the first set by the score of 25-21, the second set by the score of 25-16, and the third and final set by the score of 25-17.
The Panthers got a strong from performance from Junior standout, Dallas Faafiu, who recorded plenty of blocks and kills for the evening to lead the Panthers to victory. Sophomore, Kalaya Phung, also had quite the contribution as she followed up her strong performance at Pinole Valley with plenty of kills of her own.
The Panthers will now quickly turn their attention to Saturday morning as they will travel American Canyon High School to partake in the American Canyon Tournament. The tournament is scheduled for 8:00am.
Panthers Take Down Spartans For First Victory of 2023
August 23, 2023—On a Wednesday evening at Pinole Valley High School, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team found themselves in a very important early season game with hopes of bouncing back after their Monday night loss to Head Royce High School. However, the Panthers would indeed answer the bell, beating the Pinole Valley High Spartans in convincing fashion, winning their match by the score of 3-0.
The Panthers got key contributions from both their veteran players and young Freshmen. In fact, Senior, Jae Vass, made life difficult for the Spartans with her serves as she would win a lot of points for the Panthers from the service line; Sophomore, Kalaya Phung, also played a critical role in the team’s victory as she recorded a lot of points with her kills, and Freshman, London Crawford, made her presence known with great serves, kills, and digs of her own as well.
The Panthers will now look to build off of their dominant victory as they will play host to the Alameda High Hornets on Friday, August 25th, for their first home game of the season. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00pm.
Panthers Drop Close Matchup with Head Royce
August 21, 2023—In a rematch of last year’s NCS Division IV Semifinal matchup, the Varsity Girls Volleyball team squared off against the Head Royce High Jayhawks yet again in another classic match between the two teams. Although the Panthers aspired to seek revenge for last year’s 3-1 defeat in the postseason, they would unfortunately come up short as the Panthers would lose by the score of 3-2.
It was a very exciting back-and-forth affair as the Panthers would get on the board first by winning the first set by the score of 25-22. However, the Jayhawks would go on to have quite the answer as they would win the second and third sets by combined score of 50-29, putting themselves up by the score of 2-1. The Panthers would then respond themselves as they would go on to take the fourth set by the score of 25-15, forcing the match into the fifth and final set. However, the Panthers couldn’t build off of their victory in the fourth set, losing the final set by the score of 15-12.
The Panthers will now turn their attention to Wednesday’s matchup against Pinole Valley where they will look to get in the win column for the first time this season. The match is scheduled for 7:00PM at Pinole Valley High School.
DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | F/S RESULTS | JV RESULTS | VAR RESULTS |
Friday, August 18th | Marin Academy |
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Marin Academy
(San Rafael, CA)
|
DNP |
0-2 (L)
(14-25)
(21-25)
|
0-3 (L)
(17-25)
(17-25)
(21-25)
|
Tuesday, August 21st | Head Royce |
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Head Royce HS
(Oakland, CA)
|
DNP |
0-2 (L)
17-25
18-25
|
2-3 (L)
25-22
16-25
13-25
25-15
12-15
|
Wednesday, August 23rd | Pinole Valley |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:30PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Pinole Valley HS
(Pinole, CA)
|
2-1 (W)
25-14
15-25
15-7
|
2-1 (W)
28-18
22-25
15-13
|
3-0 (W)
25-15
25-15
25-21
|
Friday, August 25th | Alameda |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:00PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Hagler Court |
1-2 (L)
25-21
20-25
2-15
|
2-1 (W)
26-24
20-25
15-11
|
3-0 (W)
25-21
25-15
25-17
|
Saturday, August 26th |
American Canyon Tourney
International
|
Varsity @ 8:30AM |
American Canyon HS
(American Canyon, CA)
|
|
2-0 (W)
25-19
25-13
|
|
Saturday, August 26th |
American Canyon Tourney
Fort Bragg
|
Varsity @ 10:30AM |
American Canyon HS
(American Canyon, CA)
|
2-0 (W)
25-12
25-20
|
||
Saturday, August 26th |
American Canyon Tourney
Ukiah
|
Varsity @ 1:30PM |
American Canyon HS
(American Canyon, CA)
|
1-2 (L)
25-18
19-25
10-15
|
||
Saturday, August 26th |
American Canyon Tourney
American Canyon
|
Varsity @ 3:30PM |
American Canyon HS
(American Canyon, CA)
|
1-2 (W)
25-21
19-25
12-15
|
||
Wednesday, August 30th | El Cerrito |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:00PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Hagler Court |
(W)
Forfeit
|
2-0 (W)
25-14
25-20
|
3-0 (W)
25-8
25-11
25-17
|
Friday, September 1st | Berkeley |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:00PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Hagler Court |
(W)
16-25
26-24
15-10
|
(L)
26-24
20-25
10-15
|
(L)
21-25
25-19
22-25
20-25
|
Wednesday, September 6th | Jesse Bethel |
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Hagler Court | DNP |
(W)
25-20
25-30
|
(W)
25-11
25-16
25-19
|
Friday, September 8th | San Rafael |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:30PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
San Rafael HS
(San Rafael, CA)
|
(W)
25-15
25-21
|
(W)
25-17
25-16
|
(W)
25-20
25-20
20-25
25-20
|
Monday, September 11th | Hercules |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:00PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Hercules HS
(Hercules, CA)
|
(W)
25-9
25-23
|
(W)
25-15
19-25
15-13
|
(W)
25-15
25-21
25-16
|
Wednesday, September 13th | SPSV |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:00PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
SPSV HS
(Vallejo, CA)
|
DNP |
(W)
24-26
16-25
|
(W)
27-25
25-23
25-15
|
Monday, September 18th | Albany |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:00PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Hagler Court |
(L)
21-25
13-25
|
(L)
10-25
22-25
|
(L)
25-20
25-13
15-25
23-25
14-16
|
Wednesday, September 20th | El Cerrito |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:00PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
El Cerrito HS
(El Cerrito, CA)
|
(L)
22-25
13-25
|
(W)
25-15
25-18
|
(W)
25-21
25-8
25-20
|
Monday, September 25th | Jesse Bethel |
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Jesse Bethel HS
(Vallejo, CA)
|
DNP |
(W)
25-19
25-12
|
(W)
25-14
25-18
25-21
|
Wednesday, September 27th | Hercules |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:00PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Hagler Court |
(L)
25-20
14-25
13-15
|
(W)
25-14
25-1
|
(W)
25-8
25-16
25-14
|
Monday, October 2nd | SPSV |
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Hagler Court | DNP |
(W)
25-17
25-19
|
(W)
22-25
25-20
25-15
25-18
|
Wednesday, October 4th | Albany |
Frosh/Soph @ 4:00PM
JV @ 5:30PM
Varsity @ 7:00PM
|
Albany HS
(Albany, CA)
|
(L) | (L) |
(W)
25-22
25-13
25-15
|
Saturday, October 7th |
Serve It Up Founders Classic
Sacred Heart Cathedral
|
9:30AM
|
Sacred Heart Cathedral HS
(San Francisco, CA)
|
(L)
|
||
Serve It Up Founders Classic
De La Salle (Chicago)
|
11:00AM
|
Sacred Heart Cathedral HS
(San Francisco, CA)
|
(L)
17-25
21-25
20-25
|
|||
Serve It Up Founders Classic
Justin Siena
|
2:00PM
|
Sacred Heart Cathedral HS
(San Francisco, CA)
|
(L)
17-25
25-22
22-25
19-25
|
|||
Saturday, October 14th |
Rancho Cotate Tournament
Las Lomas
|
TBA
|
Rancho Cotate HS
(Rohnert Park, CA)
|
(L)
23-25
23-25
|
||
Rancho Cotate Tournament
Rancho Cotate
|
TBA
|
Rancho Cotate HS
(Rohnert Park, CA)
|
(W)
25-15
25-9
|
|||
Rancho Cotate Tournament
Arcata
|
TBA
|
Rancho Cotate HS
(Rohnert Park, CA)
|
(W)
25-18
25-17
|
|||
Rancho Cotate Tournament
Enochs
|
TBA
|
Rancho Cotate HS
(Rohnert Park, CA)
|
(W)
25-17
25-19
|
|||
Rancho Cotate Tournament
Northridge
|
TBA
|
Rancho Cotate HS
(Rohnert Park, CA)
|
(W)
25-23
25-13
|
|||
Monday, October 16th |
TCAL Semifinals
Hercules
|
6:00PM
|
Hagler Court
|
(W)
25-14
25-15
25-12
|
||
Wednesday, October 18th |
TCAL Championship
SPSV
|
6:00PM
|
Hagler Court
|
(L)
21-25
20-25
25-14
20-25
|
||
Wednesday,
October 25th
|
NCS
1st Round
Roseland University Prep
|
7:00PM |
Sheppard Elementary
(Santa Rosa, CA)
|
(W)
21-25
25-17
23-25
25-17
15-4
|
||
Saturday,
October 28th
|
NCS
Quarterfinals
Head-Royce
|
7:00PM
|
Head-Royce
(Oakland, CA)
|
(L)
18-25
16-25
20-25
|
Girl's Volleyball 2022-2023 Season
Fantastic Season Comes to an End, Panthers Lose to West Valley in CIF Playoffs.
November 9, 2022--On a long Tuesday afternoon and evening where the Panthers had to make the 4-hour bus trip to Cottonwood, CA, the Panthers lost to the West Valley High School Eagles in the first round of the CIF State Championships, ending their season with a record of 22-6. Even though the Panthers came up short of fulfilling their goals of a state championship title, it does not take away all the major success and accomplishments that this team achieved.
This season was the first time since 2003 that the team went undefeated in league play (10-0), the second consecutive season where they were TCAL Regular Season Champions, won the TCAL Tournament Championship, won more than 20 games, and qualified for the CIF State Championship Playoffs since the 2007 season.
Senior and Back-to-Back TCAL MVP, Karis Van Noord, said she’s very proud of everything the team accomplished this season and that the team worked really well together by supporting each other on and off the court. The last game should not define the season. Fellow Senior, Tori Hart, also said that she is proud of the long run the team had where they won TCAL and went far enough in NCS to get to the State Regionals, which hadn’t been done in a long time. Tori was also happy to see how the team dynamic got stronger throughout the season.
This was a sensational season that these players will never forget as they will go down as one of the best teams in school history. However, the future is bright for this program as they will return a lot of great young players who look to have quite an encore in 2023.
Panthers Punch Ticket to NCS Semis
October 29, 2022--In their first NCS playoff game, the Panthers hosted the Del Norte Warriors who made the 7-hour drive to Berkeley to compete in this showdown. In the first set of the match, the Panthers jumped out early until the Warriors slowly fought their way back to tie it at 15 a piece. However, the Panthers would respond and take the first set by the score of 25-22.
In the second set, the Warriors would set the tone early until the Panthers would tie the set at 7. It was still tied at 14 when Del Norte jumped back ahead, but the Panthers caught up and didn’t look back, winning the second set by the score of 25-19.
In the third set, it would be all Warriors as they would take the third set by the score of 25-20. After a tight start to set number 4, the Panthers would get on a roll and never look back, winning the 4th and final set by the score of 25-15, punching their ticket the NCS Semifinal Round. A few key players in this game were Seniors Karis Van Noord, Sophia Martinez, and Tori Hart; Junior Jae Vass; Sophomores Dallas Faafiu and Kameron Bazile; and Freshman Kalaya Phung. After the game, Sophia said they focused too much on the other team and not enough on themselves in the third set and they had to focus more on their own passes and hits in the final set. Junior, Jae Vass, said the other team got used to how they played in the third set and they needed to adjust in the last set because the other team was changing in spots that they were not. They needed to make a big improvement, which they did.
The Panthers will take on the second-seeded Head Royce Jayhawks on Wednesday, November 2nd, with an opportunity to punch their ticket to the NCS Finals. The game is scheduled for 7:00pm at Head Royce High School in Oakland.
Panthers Capture TCAL Tournament Title!
October 19, 2022-- On Wednesday evening at Saint Mary’s College High School, Hagler Court was rocking as the Panthers hosted one of their cross-town rivals, the Albany High Cougars, for their third match of the season. However, this meeting consisted of high stakes as the TCAL Tournament Championship was on the line. In the first set of the Championship match, the Panthers had their backs against the wall as the Cougars jumped out to an early lead in the first set. However, the Panthers resiliency that they have displayed all season showed up once again as the Panthers took the first set by the score of 25-23.
The second set of the match was similar to the first set as the Cougars, once again, jumped out to an early lead, but the Panthers would fight back, yet again, and take the second set by the score of 25-21, giving themselves a 2-0 advantage in the match. In the third and final set, it was all Panthers as they would complete the sweep, winning the third and final set by the score of 25-15 and claiming the TCAL Tournament Title. There were many stand out players including Freshman standout Kalaya Phung; Sophomore Dallas Faafiu; Juniors Jae Vass and Lucia Greenberg; and Seniors Sophia Martinez, Clara Steele, Tori Hart, and TCAL MVP Karis Van Noord.
After the game, Karis said the team needs to work together and continue to be as committed as they have been all season. If they can do that, they can go far and make a deep run in the NCS playoffs. Jae also said that the team should work on some new skills at practice so they can be well prepared for the teams they expect to see going into NCS and, hopefully, State. The Panthers are expected to be the Number 2 seed in the NCS playoffs, but they will have to wait to find out their fate on Sunday, October 23rd, as the NCS Selection Committee will release both the seedings and the brackets for each division. Nonetheless, the Panthers are scheduled to host the first round of NCS on Wednesday, October 26th, at Hagler Court. The time of that match, as well as the opponent, will be determined this Sunday.
Panthers Oust Gauchos in TCAL Semis
October 17, 2022--In the TCAL Semifinal Round for the Number 1 Seeded Panthers in front of a raucous “Pink Out” crowd, the Panthers defeated the El Cerrito High Gauchos by the score of 3-1 on a Monday evening at Hagler Court. It was also the third time this season that the Panthers defeated the Gauchos as well. However, following a full week of from playing any matches, the Panthers started out slow and rusty as they fell in the first set to El Cerrito, 26-24. However, as resilient as this Panthers group has been all year, their defeat in the first set proved to be nothing but just a wakeup call as the Panthers would go on to win the next sets by the scores 25-15, 25-22, and 25-18, respectively, punching their ticket to the TCAL Tournament Championship.
Some key players were Seniors Karis Van Noord, Tori Hart, Sophia Martinez, Victoria Wiitala; Junior Jae Vass; and Sophomores Dallas Faafiu and Kameron Bazile. In regards to Faafiu and Bazile, they accounted for numerous blocks that gave the Panthers key and momentum-changing points throughout the whole match. Tori said after the game that the team had to stay composed and confident so they can play at their best and stay focused on their own game rather than on the other team, especially in a loud playoff atmosphere.
One important fact to mention is that in the Panthers last six matches against TCAL opponents, they played in a total of 20 sets and have only lost two of those 20 sets.
The Panthers will host the Albany Cougars for the TCAL Championship Game at Hagler Court. This will be the third time that both teams have met this season. The game will also be a “White Out Game” and it is scheduled for Wednesday night at 7pm. Go Panthers!
Panthers Cap Off Regular Season with TCAL Title & Historic Feat
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October 7th, 2022--During this past week, the Panthers regular season came to a close that consisted of the team winning all three matches including a Senior Night celebration that was capped off with a TCAL Regular Season Title against a cross-town rival, as well as the team accomplishing a historic feat in both the history of the Tri-County Athletic League (TCAL) and in school history in the last regular season game of the season.
On Wednesday evening of Senior Night, where six senior players were honored for their four years of dedication and commitment to the program, the accomplishment of capturing a league title for a second consecutive year was the pinnacle moment for not only the seniors, but for the entire volleyball program that has achieved new heights under Head Coach Chris Martinez. What was even more special to capture all the emotions and feelings of that very evening was that the victory was witnessed by a jam-packed crowd consisting of friends, family, loved ones, and members of the school community who have supported t he team since the beginning of the year, a moment that was a long time coming for the program ever since the COVID pandemic emerged in 2020.
However, even with winning the regular season league title, the Panthers did not take their foot off the gas as they traveled to Vallejo the very next evening to Jesse Bethel High, defeating the Jaguars in three straight sets. With the victory, the Panthers became the first team in the TCAL era to go undefeated in league play (10-0) and became the first team in school history since 2003 to go undefeated in league play when the Panthers were a part of the Bay Shore Athletic League.
Even with the accomplishments that the team achieved this season, these were only a few of the boxes the team has checked off for themselves as they look to win the TCAL tournament and capture an NCS Title. What’s next for the Panthers is that they will have a first-round bye this next week, and then resume play the following week as they will host the semifinal round of the TCAL tournament on Monday, October 17th, at Hagler Court.
Panthers Defeat Bruins, Zeroing in on TCAL Title
October 3rd, 2022--On a Monday evening in Vallejo, California, the Panthers volleyball team defeated the Saint Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins in 4 games. This was a major victory for the Panthers as they not only keep their undefeated record alive in league play, but they are one win away from clinching their second straight TCAL Regular Season Title.
The Panthers jumped on the Bruins early in the match as they took the first two games. How
ever, the Bruins would not go away quietly as they won the next set to force the 4th and final set of the match where the Panthers would finish off the Bruins for good.
The Panthers, once again, got a consistent team effort throughout the match, but the Panthers got tremendous play from Senior Karis Van Noord and Tori Hart, Sophomore Dallas Faafiu, and Freshman Kalaya Phung, propelling the Panthers to victory.
The Panthers will look to clinch the TCAL Regular Season Title against their cross-town rival, the Albany High Cougars, on Senior Night at Hagler Court. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, October 5th, at 7pm.
Panthers Top Jaguars, Extend Winning Streak to 9
September 26, 2022--On beautiful Monday evening at Hagler Court, the Panthers hosted the Jesse Bethel Jaguars in TCAL affair. The Panthers started the game with a small lead that the Panthers would eventually extend, eventually dominating the first set by the score of 25-13. In the second set, the Panthers left right where they left off in the first set as they jumped to 6-0 lead in the second set. However, despite the impressive start by the Panthers, the Jaguars would not go away quietly as they began to show
some life, tying the match at 11 later in the set. It stayed close the rest of the way, but the Panthers edged out a 25-22 win to claim the second set, jumping out to a 2-0 lead.
The Panthers sat with a very small lead in the first part of set number three. The Jaguars would tie the match at 13 until they eventually took a lead of their own. However, the Panthers tied it again at 19. The match would eventually land in a tie at 24-24 until the Panthers finished off a sweep of the Jaguars as they would score the next two points and win by the score of 26-24, extending their winning streak to 9 games. Some key players were Seniors Karis Van Noord, Clara Steele, Tori Hart, Victoria Wiitala; as well as Sophomore Dallas Faafiu and Freshman Kalaya Phung.
The Panthers will look to extend their winning streak, as well as their first-place lead in the TCAL standings, when they take on the Hercules High Titans in Hercules. The match is scheduled for this Wednesday, September 28th, at 7:00PM.
Panthers Take Down Cougars, Win 8th Straight
The Panthers traveled down the street to take on cross-town rival, the Albany Cougars. The first set was extremely tight from the opening serve, but the Panthers capitalized on their opportunities late, giving them a 25-19 victory. In the second set, the Panthers took a small lead early, but the Cougars would fight back and tie the set. Both teams would exchange leads until the Panthers went on a run and found themselves up 10. The Cougars cut the deficit by 1 point, but the Panthers would ultimately win 25-17.
The Albany crowd stayed in it, and when the third set got going, it was all Cougars. All the momentum in the building was on their side as they took an 8-0 lead. However, the Panthers' toughness and resiliency would show as they scored the next 11 points before the Cougars would score again. The Panthers would extend their lead and ultimately win the third and final set by the score of 25-14. In that final set, and after falling behind 8-0, the Panthers went on a 25-6 run to end the match and extend their winning streak to 8 games. After falling to Marin Academy in the season opener, the Panthers have won 8 of their last 9 games.
There were many significant players in this game including Sophomore’s Dallas Faafiu and Kameron Bazile, as well as Seniors Karis Van Noord, Tori Hart, Clara Steele, Sophia Martinez, and Victoria Wiitala. After the game, Clara said the energy really shifted in the timeout early in the final set and they came out of it feeling rejuvenated, positive, and like it was their game to take back. Karis said the Albany crowd really contributed to the atmosphere of the game, but they dealt with it and ultimately pulled through for the victory.
The Panthers will continue TCAL play this coming Monday, September 26th, as they take on the Jesse Bethel Jaguars at Hagler Court. Game is scheduled for 7pm
Panthers Take Down Gauchos, Improve to 7-1 On the Year
It was another loud one with the second straight “Red-Out” at Hagler Court as the Panthers took on the El Cerrito Gauchos on Wednesday night. The Panthers jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, but the Gauchos kept it close. It was very tight the whole way, but the Panthers held on for the 25-22 win in set 1. The second set was another tight battle where the Panthers finished on top. The third set went back and forth with the lead the entire way. After being down by the score of 22-17, the Gauchos fought all the way back to tie the set at 24, and then ultimately claimed the third set by the score of 26-24.
The Gauchos started the fourth set up 2-0, and then the Panthers jumped ahead and sat with another small lead. It was another back-and-forth affair that was, once again, all even at 24, where the Gauchos would score the next two points and even up the match at 2 a piece. The fifth and final set, though it was shorter, was no different from how the game was going. In the last set, neither team had a comfortable lead, but the Panthers pulled away with the victory as they would go on to win 15-12, claiming the match by the score of 3-2.
A few key players that propelled the Panthers to victory were Sophomores Dallas Faafiu and Kameron Bazile, and Seniors Tori Hart, Karis Van Noord, and Sophia Martinez. However, the individual performances of these players did not overshadow the effort of every single player for the Panthers. Each player had a key role and a key moment at some point in the match that was pivotal in this hard-fought victory. Sophia said after the game that being cross town rivals, El Cerrito had a green-out along with our red-out, which created a lot of extra pressure. They were consumed by all the noise, but they stayed composed and utilized the Panther spirit to combat the other team.
The Panthers will continue league play next week as they take on Jesse Bethel High School next Monday, September 26th, at 7:00PM, and will look to extend their winning streak to 8.
Red Out Crowd Fuels Panthers to Victory; Extend Winning Streak to 6 Games
September 16th, 2022--It was a loud one on “Red Out Friday” as the Panthers played host to the Hercules Titans to try to extend their five-game winning streak. The game was a very tight to start until the Panthers went on an impressive run to make the score 24-8. The Titans scored the next 2 points, but the Panthers would ultimately claim the first set by the score of 25-10. The Panthers maintained a small lead for the majority of the second set. However, like the first set of the match, the Panthers would go on another impressive run, taking the second set of the match by the score of 25-15.
In the third set of the match, the Titans jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead until the Panthers answered immediately with 5 points of their own to take the lead by the score of 5-2. It was a back-and-forth affair between the Panthers and Titan in the third set, which led to what would be a very tight finish. However, the Panthers held on to win the third and final set by the score of 25-21, sweeping the Titans in three straight sets and extending their winning streak to 6 games.
The large red out crowd loved every minute of the match, and the Panthers fed off their energy. Some key players of the match were Seniors Karis Van Noord, Sophia Martinez, and Tori Hart; as well as Sophomores Dallas Faafiu and Cleo Saxe. After the game, Tori said the way the game played out means a lot to them and it shows that even if they have a rough start, they can definitely push through to the finish and come out on top.
The Panthers will head into next week as they continue TCAL play where they will host the El Cerrito Gauchos on Wednesday, September 21st, at 7:00PM.
Panthers Top Bruins; Remain Undefeated in TCAL
September 14, 2022--The Panthers played host to the SPSV Bruins and came out on fire. They dominated the first set by 11 points, winning by the score of 25-14, having never trailed the set. However, despite their defeat in the opening set, the Bruins put up more of a fight in the second set, but the Panthers continued to execute and finished on top, 25-19. The third set was extremely tight. The two teams went back and forth in the entire set. Both teams were tied at 24 until the Panthers came up clutch and secured a 26-24 win to complete the sweep and extend the winning streak to five games.
Some key players were Karis Van Noord, Tori Hart, Sophia Martinez, Clara Steele, and Dallas Faafiu. Karis said after the game that the team as a whole is very strong and it is because of how well they get along on and off the court, which allows them to play strong so consistently.
The team is looking forward to extending their winning streak in the first ever “Red Out” game this Friday as they will play host to the Hercules Titans at 7PM.
Panthers Dominate in League Opener; Sweep Gauchos
September 7, 2022—In the opening game of TCAL play, the Panthers were great from start to finish as they defeated TCAL rival, the El Cerrito High Gauchos, in 3 straight sets. With this victory, the Panthers extend their winning streak to four games and have won 4 out of their last 5 games to open up the 2022-2023 campaign.
It was a full team effort across the Panthers lineup, but the standouts of the day were Seniors Karis Van Noord and Tori Hart, as well Sophomore Dallas Faafiu and Freshman sensation Kalaya Phung, allowing the Panthers to win their 4th straight game of the year. The Panthers will look to extend their winning streak and strong play as they return home to Hagler Court on Wednesday, September 14th, to play against TCAL foe St. Patrick’s-St. Vincent’s of Vallejo.
Panthers Resiliency Leads to 3rd Straight Victory
September 2, 2022—A warm Thursday evening proved to an exciting one for the Varsity Volleyball team as they notched their 3rd straight win (3rd out of the last 4 games) to open the 2022-2023 campaign. However, the Panthers had to work for every set against the Alameda High Hornets as both teams went the distance with the Panthers winning in 5 sets. In fact, the Panthers were trailing 2 sets to 1 going into the 4th set of the match but showed resiliency in the face of adversity as they would win the 4th and 5th set to complete the comeback.
Even though this was only the 4th game of the season, it was a good early test for this veteran group who have TCAL and NCS aspirations. The Panthers look to continue their fantastic start to their young season as they begin TCAL play against league rival El Cerrito this coming Tuesday evening.
Panthers Prove Too Much for Jets in 2nd Home Game
August 31, 2022—In their second straight home match following a victory over league foe Pinole Valley last Saturday afternoon, the Panthers girls’ volleyball team were nothing short of excellent against Encinal High School of Alameda. The Panthers won in 3 straight sets (25-21, 25-12, 25-19) against the Jets.
The key to the match was the Panthers resiliency and determination in the first set where they overcame 19-15 deficit to win the set by the score of 25-21, scoring 10 out of the last 12 points. From that moment on, the Panthers were in full command of the match as they were impressive the next two sets to score the 3-0 sweep.
The Panthers were led by senior, and defending TCAL MVP, Karis Van Noord with here impressive spikes and serves; Sophomore Dallas Faafiu with impressive blocks of her own to help the Panthers to secure critical points through the match; and Freshmen sensation Kalaya Phung who has had an impressive start to her high school career with great blocks and spikes of her own.
The Panthers will take on Alameda High School this Thursday as they look to extend their winning streak to 3 games.
Girl's Volleyball 2021-2022 Season
Panthers Edged By Pilots in NCS Playoffs
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Player Profile: Kylie Bartel
By Hailey Vines
October 13th, 2021
This week I talked with senior, all-league volleyball player Kylie Bartel. Kylie has been a varsity player since she came to Saint Mary’s and is one of the team leaders. So far this year, the team is 19-6 overall and ranked 1st in the TCAL with a 9-1 record. This is what she had to say about the team and their season thus far.
Q: How did you get into your sport?
A: My father played beach volleyball in college. He was the coach for the 8th grade team at my middle school and I always went to their practices. It was kind of expected for me to play.
Q: What do you like best about your sport/team at Saint Mary’s?
A: I love that you can make friends on the team that you might’ve not made if you didn’t play, and you also get to play with the friends you already have at school.
Q: What has been the highlight of your Saint Mary’s athletic career thus far?
A: This year I like being a senior and having a little more control over the team's decisions. Forming into more of a leadership role this season has been a great experience for me.”
Q: Do you have a favorite story you could share about one of the coaches or your teammates?
A: We took a trip to Arcata during Halloween. We couldn’t go trick or treating so we went to a restaurant with all of our last minute costumes on. It was super funny and a great memory.
Q: Do you have a pre-match ritual? (Special meal? Certain piece of clothing? A routine? Etc…)
A: We usually have rituals as a team. We found a stick in the locker room last year and we decorated it. It was our spirit stick, we kept it and had a winning streak of 8 games.
Q: What advice would you give to a new player/teammate?
A: Focus on the things that you can control. Be on time, have good effort, don't slack off, work hard and be aggressive. Go after everything.
Q: Any hopes or goals that you have for yourself and for your team this season?
A: I hope our team continues to play consistently at a high level.
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Earlier in the evening, the freshman team earned it's first win of the season, a 27-25, 16-25 15-12 three game thriller. After that, the Junior Varsity team had it's 6 game winning streak snapped: 25-15, 19-25, 6-15. The team plays in the Rancho Cotate Nor Cal Tournament this weekend while preparing for next week's TCAL tournament.
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Panthers Suffer Heartbreak Loss to Alameda
September 1st, 2021
Berkeley, CA – After opening the season with four straight wins, the Girl’s Volleyball Team suffered their second straight setback, falling to the Alameda Hornets in a close, tightly contested 5 set battle. After capturing the 1st game 25 -20, the Panthers were edged 25-27 in game two before winning game three 25 – 20. The Hornets won game four 25-23 and 16-14 to seal the win.
The Panthers next match is their TCAL Opener against Salesian on Tuesday, September 7th. The JV game begins at 5:30 while the Varsity play at 7:00.
Volleyballers Drop Tight Contest to Marin Academy
August 26th, 2021
Despite strong games from juniors Karis Van Noord and Sophia Martinez as well as from Senior Kylie Bartel, the Saint Mary’s Girls Volleyball team dropped their first match of the season against Marin Academy on Thursday night in Berkeley.
After a back-and-forth first set - eventually won by the Wildcats, 25-20 - the second set wasn’t as close as the Panthers attack and service errors amounted to a 15- 25 defeat. However, showing plenty of grit and determination, the Panthers fought valiantly in a tightly contested third set before eventually succumbing to the visitors: 25 - 19.
Head coach Chris Martinez acknowledged the fine play of Marin Academy after the game but also noted that his team didn’t play their best. “I think we left some of our best play at home tonight,” said Coach Martinez. “After we got out to a pretty good lead in game one, they seemed to take the momentum which we never really got back. Still, I’m proud of our girls effort and we look forward to getting back on the court soon.”
Earlier in the day the Panthers JV squad would foreshadow the varsity contest, also falling to the Wildcats - 21-25, 25-21, 11-15 – in a very close match.
The Panthers next match is Wednesday, September 1st against the Alameda High Hornets.
Both JV and Varsity Victorious in Home Opener
August 25th, 2021
Berkeley, CA – The Panthers Volleyball team won their home opener on Wednesday evening, defeating Lick-Wilmerding (San Francisco) 21-25, 25-11, 25-21, 25-17 to run their season record to 4 – 0. Junior Karis Van Noord’s 14 kills, sophomore Ashley Taboada’s 7 aces, senior Kylie Bartel’s 37 assists, and senior Else Kalar’s all around game (9 kills, 5 blocks) led the way for the Panthers.
“Our girls are really playing well right now,” said assistant coach Pamela Dungo. “Many of them have a lot of experience playing together and it shows on the floor.”
The Junior Varsity team also ran their season record to an impressive 3 – 0 behind the solid play of Mina Jones, Alexa Madrigal and Cassel McDougle.
Panthers Win in 4; Move to 3-0 In The Pre-Season
August 24th, 2021
El Cerrito, CA – The Panthers were on the road for their third straight match as they traveled to El Cerrito to take on the Gauchos. Undefeated so far, the Panthers looked to improve to 3-0 before returning home on Wednesday for their home opener against Lick-Wilmerding.
Game one was a back and forth affair, with each team exchanging the lead early. After multiple service errors by the Panthers, the Gauchos tied the game at 14. An emphatic kill by Tori Hart and block by middle, Else Kalar gave the Panthers a two-point advantage 16-14. From there, the Panthers and Gauchos battled evenly, with the Gauchos finishing with a 1-6 advantage and taking game one: 23-25.
The Panthers would start game two the same way they started game one, with a huge block at the net. Their early 2-0 lead gave way to a 2-2 tie and a series of back and forth point exchanges before the duo of Karis Van Noord and Kylie Bartel began to insert their influence. A kill by Van Noord made it 12-7 while great play from Bartel increased it to 17-11. The Gauchos, much like Game One, fought hard and would add four more points before the Panthers closed them out 25-14.
Early in Game three it was all Gauchos, leading 4-1 and 6-1 before the vaunted Panther rally began. Else Kalar’s hitting was buoyed by excellent serving by Ashley Taboada which got the Panthers back to 20-20. From there, five unanswered points spelled doom for the Gauchos… with the Panthers winning 25-20 to take a 2-1 lead in the best of five series.
Game four was a dominating performance by the Panthers, jumping out early 6-1 and maintaining a big lead for most of the match. Th Gauchos would fight back and keep it close at 23-17 before the Panthers put the finishing touches and taking the game 25-17 to take the game 3-1.
The Panthers return home tomorrow for their home opener against Lick-Wilmerding High School. Game times are 4:30pm for JV and 6:00pm for Varsity. Come out and support your still undefeated Girl’s Volleyball Team!
Karis Van Noord’s 27 Kills Lead Panthers;
Volleyballers Now 2-0 After Win @ Hercules
August 19th, 2021
Hercules, CA – The Panther Girl’s Volleyball team moved to 2-0 in pre-season league play after a 25-21, 25-11, 19-25, 25-12 road win against the Titans of Hercules High School. Kylie Bartel, Tori Hart, Jae Vass and Ashley Taboada all played “very well” according to head coach Chris Martinez. But it was junior Karis Van Noord’s 27 kills that sparked the win.
“Karis is undoubtedly one of the best players in our league,” said coach Martinez. “Her ability to attack, defend and lead has been a huge boost for us in these first two matches.”
Game one started with the Panthers on defense and after a serve receive error by sophomore, Jae Vass, the Panthers recovered behind three straight kills by junior, Karis Van Noord. The Titans would answer right away with two monster kills by the Titans outside hitter Junior, Anne Tuinauvai. Back and forth they go with no team really with an advantage. The titans scored on serving errors, while the Panthers would respond with back row hitting from junior, Karis Van Noord. After a dig by junior, Karis Van Noord of the Titans the score would 14 -14. The Titans would then take the lead on two hitting errors by the Panthers making the score 14-16. The Panthers would fight back behind good serving and defense at the net, reclaiming the lead 21-20, forcing the Titans to call a timeout. The Panthers would close out a very close game one 25-21.
Panthers come out with much higher energy in game two jumping out on the Titans 4-1. Panthers would continue their chipping away behind juniors, Karis Van Noord and Tori Hart hitting the ball well. Defensively the Panthers would have a much high presence which is why they were able to jump out to a 17-7 lead. After a service error by Ashley Taboada, Kylie Bartel would respond on the next side-out with a misdirection play, freezing the Titan defense. The Titans could not recover, and the Panthers run away with a 25-11.
With an opportunity to close out game three, the Panthers played tense, exchanging point with the Titans all the way to a 7-7 tie. The Titans would take the lead on a hitting errs by #1, only to reclaim the tie behind a kill by sophomore Jaw Vass. Both teams struggle to take control of the game with constant errors on both sides. It would be the Titans who would mustard up four consecutive points taking the lead 13-9, forcing the Panthers to a timeout. After the timeout, the Titans continued to scrap it out and adding four more pushing their lead to 9-17. The Panthers show a little fight finding the will and gathers four points closing the margin 13-18. In the end, the Titans where too much for the Panthers taking game three 19-25.
Panthers open game four with a different focus, jumping on the Titans 6-2 and forcing them to take an early timeout. The Titans would find two points on hitting errors by the Panthers narrowing their deficit 6-4. With a renewed focus, the Panthers would push the lead to 11-5. After a quick spurt by the Titans the Panthers finished the match 25-12.
The Panthers move to 2-0 on the season and return to play on Tuesday, on the road once again as they take on El Cerrito High School. Game times are 4:30pm for the JV and 6:00pm for the Varsity team.
Volleyballers Open Season On the Road With Win Against John Swett
August 17th, 2021
Crockett, CA – The Panthers opened their 2021 season with a convincing 25-6, 25-15, 25-15 win against John Swett. Panthers senior Kylie Bartel opened the game with three straight points, with teammate Tori Hart following with three straight. After that, the Panthers made quick work of the Warriors, closing the first game with a 13-3 run and a 25-6 win.
The second game opened with an impressive kill by junior outside hitter Karis Van Noord – the first of her four in Game #1 - before senior Julia Frantz ran off 9 straight points, including 5 service aces to notch the second game: 25-15.
Game three would prove to be much more competitive, with the Warriors taking an early 8–4 lead. However, Sophia Martinez would get the Panthers back in the game with four straight points, cutting the deficit to 9-8. The Panthers then went on an 8-3 run to edge ahead, 16-13, before Kylie Bartel served the final 8 points to win the game 25-15 and complete the 3 game sweep.
Karis Van Noord’s 15 kills led the Panthers statistically. “We played really well as a team, especially for having so little practice time together,” said the junior outside hitter. Sophomore Jae Vass helped fill the stat sheet with her career high 11 points in Game #2. The team finished with a total of 24 aces overall.
After almost two years away from the game, senior setter Kylie Bartel may have summed it up best. “I think we’re all excited just to be out here after such a long break.” She added, “I am thankful to be out on the floor with my teammates, cheering, competing and representing Saint Mary’s.”
The Panthers have a quick turnaround as they travel to Hercules High School on Thursday. Games times are 4:30 for JV and 6:30 for Varsity. Come out to support the Panthers this Thursday!
Schedule & Results (2021
Date |
|
Opponent |
Time |
Frosh Result |
JV Result |
Var Result |
Aug. 17th |
Tues. |
John Swett |
6:00 pm |
NO CONTEST |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25-6 25-15 25-15 |
Aug. 19th |
Thurs. |
Hercules |
6:00 pm |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25-18 25-18
|
(W) 25-21 25-11 19-25 25-12 |
Aug. 24th |
Tues. |
El Cerrito |
6:00 pm |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25-6 25-11
|
(W) 23-25 25-14 25-20 25-17
|
Aug. 25th |
Wed. |
Lick-Wilmerding |
6:00 pm |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25-13 25-19
|
(W) 21-25 25-11 25-21 25-17 |
Aug. 26th |
Thurs. |
Marin Academy
|
6:00 pm |
NO CONTEST |
(L) 21-25 25-21 11-15 |
(L) 22-25 15-25 19-25 |
Sept. 1st |
Wed. |
Alameda
|
4:00/ 5:15/ 7:00 |
(L) 14-15 23-25
|
(L) 21-25 16-25
|
(L) 25-20 25-27 25-20 23-25 14-16 |
Sept. 7th |
Tues. |
Salesian |
7:00 pm |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25-11 25-21
|
(W) 25-21 25-14 21-25 25-22
|
Sept. 14th |
Tues. |
St. Patrick- St. Vincent
|
7:00 pm |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25 - 18 25 - 15
|
(W) 28-26 25-15 25-14 |
Sept. 16th |
Thurs. |
Albany |
5:30/7:00 |
NO CONTEST |
(L) 25-19 14-25 13-15 |
(W) 25-20 25-17 25-18 |
Sept. 17th |
Fri. |
Jesse Bethel
|
5:30/7:00 |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25 - 9 25 - 11 |
(W) 25-20 25-21 25-20 |
Sept. 18th |
Sat. |
Rancho Cotate JV Tournament |
TBA |
|
|
|
Sept. 22nd |
Wed. |
Pinole Valley |
5:30/7:00
|
(L) 24-26 15-25
|
(W) 25-17 25-8
|
(W) 26-24 25-12 21-25 29-27 |
Sept. 24th |
Fri. |
Salesian |
5:30/7:00 |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 22-25 25-14 15-10 |
(W) 25-11 25-7 25-16 |
Sept. 27th |
Mon. |
St. Patrick-St. Vincent |
5:30/7:00 |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25-15 25-21
|
(L) 25-23 25-15 23-25 22-25 |
Sept. 29th |
Wed. |
Jesse Bethel |
5:30/7:00 |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25-15 25-21
|
(W) 25-21 25-22 25-15 |
Oct. 2nd |
Sat. |
Gaucho
Tournament
|
8:30am |
NO CONTEST |
NO CONTEST |
(W) v. Encinal |
Oct. 2nd |
Sat. |
Gaucho
Tournament
|
10:30am |
NO CONTEST |
NO CONTEST |
(L) v. Granada |
Oct. 2nd |
Sat. |
Gaucho
Tournament
|
12:30pm |
NO CONTEST |
NO CONTEST |
(W) v. Tamalpais |
Oct. 2nd |
Sat. |
Gaucho
Tournament
|
1:30pm |
NO CONTEST |
NO CONTEST |
(L) v. El Cerrito |
Oct. 2nd |
Sat. |
Gaucho
Tournament
|
3:30 pm |
----- |
----- |
(W) v. St. Joe's
|
Oct. 4th |
Mon. |
Pinole Valley |
5:30/7:00 |
NO CONTEST |
(W) 25-15 25-9
|
(W) 25-8 25-17 27-25 |
Oct. 6th |
Wed. |
Albany |
5:30/7:00 |
(W) 27-25 16-25 15-12
|
(L) 25-15 19-25 6-15
|
(W) 25-8 25-11 25-19
|
Oct. 9th |
Sat. |
Rancho Cotate – Nor Cal Varsity Tournament |
TBA |
|
|
(W) v. Ukiah (L) v. Westmoor (W) v. Willits (W) v. Benicia |
Oct. 14th |
Thurs. |
TCAL Playoffs |
Bye |
|
|
|
Oct. 19th |
Tues. |
TCAL Playoffs v. Albany |
6:00 pm |
NO CONTEST |
NO CONTEST |
(L) 21-25 18-25 25-20 25-19 11-15 |
Oct. 27th |
Wed. |
NCS Playoffs @ Saint Joseph Notre Dame |
7:00pm |
|
|
(L) 19-25 25-19 17-25 25-19 13-15 |
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