Girls volleyball: Marin Catholic claims fifth consecutive MCAL pennant

The senior core of the Marin Catholic girls volleyball team is no stranger to postseason success.

As sophomores they were key components of a team that made it all the way to the Open Division State championship game but the pandemic robbed them of a chance to build on that success last year as juniors.

With five senior starters — Grace Oliva, Leah Wilton-LaBoy, Bella McGirr, Julianna Treadway and Kelsey Ramsey — it was imperative for them to close out their MCAL careers with a victory.

After winning the first two sets comfortably, Marin Catholic was pushed to the limit by Branson in the third set. The Wildcats claimed their fifth consecutive league title with a 25-17, 25-16, 25-23 victory at home on Friday night.

“This match meant the world to me,” Wilton-LaBoy said. “I think after what happened last year and how we weren’t able to play a full season and compete against everybody in MCALs, this time around we really took advantage of the time we had here. Especially because it’s our last, I think all of us were really motivated because we were so disappointed last year with how the outcome of the season was because of COVID.”

With the win the Wildcats became the first MCAL girls volleyball team to claim five consecutive titles outright. MC will head into the North Coast Section playoffs as the likely No. 1 seed in Division II with Redwood lurking as a potential No. 2 seed. The seeding meeting takes place on Sunday.

MC (25-2) was dominant at times against Branson (22-4), winning 19 of the final 26 points in the first set to overturn an early 10-6 Bulls advantage. The Wildcats sustained that same high level of play throughout the second set, jumping out to a quick 9-3 lead and never trailing.

Treadway kill ices the second set, 25-16 for MC. Wildcats lead 2-0 #marinvolleyball pic.twitter.com/bstxFtIYGV

— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) October 23, 2021

“We really did a good job of staying strong to our game plan and not worrying that if we were not scoring points right away that we just need to commit to it and keep going,” Treadway said. “Last time we played them we got a little shaky in that. We just committed to what we wanted to do and stuck to our side of the net really well.”

Despite holding a 2-0 lead, the Wildcats knew they couldn’t let up against a Branson team that had already overcome a two-set hole once this week.

“We saw on Wednesday night they were down 2-0 to Redwood as well so we knew they were going to come back fighting,” Treadway said.

The third set was a battle of attrition. Over a stretch of 24 consecutive points, neither team led by more than one. The score was tied at 3-3 and remained that way after every two points through 14-14. MC finally inched in front at 16-14, prompting Branson coach Michelle Brazil to call her first timeout.

The Bulls tied it at 16-16 but then MC won five consecutive points on Treadway’s serve to extend to a 22-16 lead. Branson dug deep again, getting an ace from Gia Fisher and back-to-back kills by Elena Fisher to pull within 23-22.

“It was really intense,” Wilton-LaBoy said. “What Branson did a really good job of was reading us and defending against what we were giving to them.”

Brooke Brilliant had a kill to put MC up 24-22 but Eva Lacy ended a lengthy rally with a Branson block to make it 24-23.

This point to pull branson within one late was amazing, too #marinvolleyball pic.twitter.com/52agD5dVe6

— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) October 23, 2021

The two teams played out another extended rally that ended when Brilliant tipped the ball over the net and the Bulls were unable to keep it off the ground. MC fans stormed the court and celebrated as their team clinched another pennant.

Amazing third set. Branson got to within 24–23 and then this happened. MC in three but Bulls made them earn it #marinvolleyball pic.twitter.com/ulNImyfQPU

— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) October 23, 2021

“I wanted them to feel this so bad and it’s really special for the amount of the girls who have been out there and done this for four years in a row now — this senior class — and for the girls who haven’t done it before getting to experience this,” MC coach Jake Spain said. “It’s very special and it means a lot to our program and our community.”

Oliva and Brilliant tied for team-high honors with 12 kills apiece. Ramsey added nine kills and Treadway had six. McGirr and Treadway both had 16 digs, while Wilton-LaBoy had 13 and Oliva had 10.

The Bulls got 20 combined kills from outside hitters Elena Fisher and Sadie Snipes. Gia Fisher had 18 digs and Logan Tusher had 33 assists.

“I wish it could have been like that the whole match.” Brazil said of her team’s third-set performance. “I was really proud of my team because it’s hard to not play your best and then fight back and then throw everything you’ve got into it. I was really proud of their response.”

Branson will likely open the NCS Division III playoffs as the top seed next week.

MA claims BCL West title

Gabby Grujic piled up 38 assists, 16 digs, seven kills and four aces and clinched Marin Academy’s first league title in a few years with a setter dump to close out a 25-11, 25-17, 22-25, 25-23 victory at home against Convent on Friday night.

“Gabby got creative, found different ways to get hitters involved, and took matters into her own hands on championship point,” MA coach Craig Wong said.

The Wildcats (32-6) could  be seeded as high as second in Division IV after the North Coast Section meeting this Sunday.

Grace Badlam had 16 kills and 13 digs for MA. Amanda Johnson had 18 digs and five aces. Julia Shippey chipped in with seven kills.

“Tess Etem had a big swing late in the match then I thought both Amanda Johnson and Grace Badlam just had some really determined defense and just would not let any balls drop down the stretch,” Wong said.