5-seed, huh?
Oakland Excessive entered the CIF NorCal Division IV match because the No. 5 workforce within the bracket, a slot reserved for a workforce anticipated to maybe make it to the second spherical, however in all probability no additional.
Nobody advised the Wildcats that. After topping No. 4 Balboa of San Francisco 3-1 within the opening spherical on Tuesday within the Metropolis, Oakland made a prolonged trek to Aspire Benjamin Holt Faculty Preparatory Academy in Stockton on Thursday.
It was not an empty journey. Not solely did the Wildcats beat No. 1 Ben Holt, the highest seed within the discipline, they swept them.
The set scores have been shut – 25-23, 25-23, 25-20. However at this level, it’s evident that Oakland is a professional contender to win the NorCal title and attain the first-ever Division IV state championship sport subsequent Saturday in opposition to Southern California’s regional champion.
“I’m super proud of my guys for making it this far, the farthest in our school history,” Oakland Excessive coach Kao Saephanh advised the Bay Space Information Group. “We knew going into the match that they wouldn’t make it easy, but we also knew what we were capable of.”
Oakland (25-7) encompasses a battle-tested group that went 10-0 in Oakland Athletic League regular-season play. In knocking off Ben Holt (39-2), the Wildcats handed the Bobcats their fist dwelling loss all season lengthy.
“Most of the guys on my team, I’ve had the pleasure of coaching them for the past four years and know what great things they are capable of doing,” Saephanh mentioned. “We didn’t quit and fought for each level, and I’m proud they have been in a position to ship tonight when it mattered. Congrats additionally to Ben Holt for placing up a great sport in opposition to us.”
Offensively, exterior hitter Raul Henriquez led the way in which for Oakland with 14 kills and 5 digs. Reverse/proper aspect Nathan Le had eight kills, and center blocker Moses Heida had six kills and 6 extra blocks.
Libero Vincent Huynh helped coordinate the Cats’ protection with six digs, and setter Darren Nguyen dished out an excellent 30 assists.
Oakland Excessive will now journey to face No. 2 Livingston, a faculty situated southeast of Turlock within the Central Valley, on Saturday for the Division IV NorCal regional championship at 6 p.m. Livingston beat No. 3 Oakland Tech 22-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-22 within the different Division IV semifinal on Thursday.
Division I
No. 1 Archbishop Mitty 3, No. 4 Clovis 0
Mitty had no bother with its guests from close to Fresno, sweeping Clovis with comparatively comfy set scores of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-23.
The Monarchs (39-2) haven’t dropped a set thus far in NorCal play, they usually’re trending in the precise path. Mitty wanted further factors to settle the primary set and received by the minimal within the different two in a 26-24, 25-23, 25-23 sweep of No. 8 Oak Ridge on Tuesday in San Jose.
Mitty will now await the winner of No. 2 Harker and No. 3 Clovis East, which will probably be performed on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in San Jose. Harker athletic director Dan Molin advised the Bay Space Information Group that the sport was moved to accommodate Harker’s commencement ceremony, which was held on Thursday afternoon.
The Division I championship sport will probably be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Mitty.
Division II
No. 1 Buchanan 3, No. 4 Los Gatos 0
Los Gatos endured an disagreeable finish to an important season on Thursday night time in Clovis.
The house Bears (29-16) have been dominant of their victory, profitable by set scores of 25-13, 25-17 and 25-19. Los Gatos (20-12) didn’t threaten Buchanan persistently in assault, compiling simply 22 kills mixed as a workforce.
Markus McGrath had the person lead for kills with seven, adopted by Sean Slover with 4. Nico Bianchi and Nolan Harr added three every, whereas Weston Kafer and Zach Renfrew notched two apiece.
Reily Nguyen had a kill and the lone service ace for Los Gatos. Bianchi had three blocks, whereas Harr and Slover shared second place with two every. McGrath had one.
Slover led the way in which defensively with 5 digs, adopted by Nolan Harr (4). Owen Benitez, Will Enneking, Weston Kafer and Nguyen had two every.
No. 3 Del Oro-Loomis 3, No. 2 Amador Valley 1
It will likely be a Bay Space-free Division II championship sport after Del Oro had a pleasing keep in Pleasanton, taking down the house Dons by set scores of 25-21, 25-16, 14-25, 25-22.
Del Oro’s powerful serving and potent hitting was the distinction within the first two units, based on Amador coach Ross Yu. The Dons have been firing on all cylinders within the third set due to contributions from hitters Max Riter and Nick Nayak, in addition to improved defensive execution.
“We carried that momentum and energy into the fourth set, which was back and forth,” Yu mentioned. “We came close to pushing it to a fifth set, but they pulled out the last few points.”
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It was a bit too little, too late for AV on Thursday night time. Nonetheless, the Dons end the 12 months with a powerful total mark of 27-12.
“I am absolutely proud of how these boys came together and committed themselves to each other,” Yu mentioned. “It is their closeness and their shared resolve as a team that enabled them to steadily improve over the course of the season. We would have loved the win, but we went out playing the Amador Valley brand of volleyball and knowing we gave it our all.”
Division III
No. 4 Branham 3, No. 1 Leigh 2
The fourth assembly of the 2 San Jose neighboring excessive colleges reached legendary heights as the 2 colleges performed their second consecutive five-setter in a high-stakes postseason match. Sophomore Pasha Znamerovsky made a key block as Branham pulled away within the fifth set.
Christian Babcock was on web site within the South Bay and has the total story right here.
Branham celebrates after profitable in opposition to Leigh in the course of the semifinals of the NorCal Division III regionals at Leigh Excessive Faculty in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Might 22, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
