With a decisive victory over conference foes the American River College Beavers, the SRJC volleyball team clinched the Big 8 Conference championship along with a playoff berth. The Lady Bear Cubs will enter the NorCal playoffs as the second seed behind Cabrillo and play their first home match on Nov. 22.
The Lady Bear Cubs finish the season with an overall record of 26-2 with a conference record of 14-1. The team’s only conference loss came against Sacramento City College on Nov. 11 with the match going the full five games and SRJC barely losing. The squad also finished undefeated at home.
The first game in the match against the Beavers was highly competitive coming down to the wire before SRJC won 25-22. The second game was fought equally hard with both teams making incredibly tough digs, throwing themselves on the hardwood floor seeming to disregard whatever burns and bruises they might endure. Despite the Beavers making crucial saves, SRJC won the second game 25-23.
The third game began with a hard-fought rally with both teams hitting the deck to make athletic, improbable saves and it seemed the third game would be another battle. After the Beaver’s libero made a gasp-inducing save in the middle of the court sophomore Taylor Nelson became awkwardly turned around, but was able to make a deft save along the sideline, ensuring the first point while shifting momentum toward SRJC. “I haven’t even thought about it yet… I’m just happy I got it up and over the net,” Nelson said.
After taking the lead 20-11, SRJC scored five straight points to finish the third game 25-11, and take the match in three straight games.
“We feel really good, this game is a confidence booster,” sophomore Sam Siebert said. “We feel we’re ready to go in and dominate the playoffs.”
The Lady Bear Cub’s number two seed ensures at least three home playoff matches. “In the playoffs home court advantage is a big deal,” head coach Kelly Wood said.
With divisional playoffs beginning Nov. 22, the SRJC volleyball team is shaping up to make another deep run at the title.