El Camino Wins Section Volleyball Title

The first two sets for against Rocklin in Thursday's CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II volleyball final could have gone either way, befitting the matchup between the top two teams and a rematch of the 2010 final.

But unlike last year when the Thunder won, it was the top-seeded Eagles (36-3) that found a way to claw out points and stifle any of No. 2 Rocklin's rallies at UC Davis. El Camino won its second section title in three years with a 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-19) win.

The Eagles were down 24-22 in the first set before gutting out a 4-0 run to win. The team later started off slow in the third set 8-3 before coming back.

"This section title means a lot because both teams played well tonight," said El Camino coach Martin Soyama, who got his 100th win with the program earlier in the playoffs. "Both of our middles were fantastic- (seniors) Megan Lunger and Nicole Hareland."

"We started passing better," Soyama said. "Once our middles were a threat, it was hard for them to match up."

Senior outside hitter Natalie Riddering again seemed to get points when the Eagles needed them. She had one ace, 14 kills and 12 digs on the night.

"We've been working hard the past month and a half to beat this team," Riddering said. "We stayed together tonight, remembering to stay calm and shake off mistakes."

Hareland had two aces, nine kills and two blocks.

"This win means the world because last year they beat us and we just knew we'd be playing them again," Hareland said. "We put our hearts out. I'm so proud of my team."

Other leaders for El Camino were senior libero Talia Kaczmarek with two aces and 18 digs, junior outside hitter Cassidy Denny with seven kills and 16 digs and freshman setter Devin Herenda with 37 assists.

"It feels good to call ourselves section champs," Herenda said. "We just kept trying our hardest and it paid off."

El Camino won the Division III section championship in 2009.

Next up for the Eagles is the Nor Cal playoffs, which begin Tuesday. The Eagles will host the opening match.

In Division VI, No. 4 seed of Carmichael won its first-ever section banner, 3-2 (21-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-17, 15-10) over No. 3 seed Sacramento Country Day, The Sacramento Bee reported.

---