On match point, it couldn’t have been a better combination. Senior co-captain Emily Vickers dug out the ball served up by Christian Brothers, teammate and fellow co-captain senior Rylie Lattig set the ball and senior Gianna ‘G-Money’ Bava lived up to her nickname, slamming home the game-winning kill.
When the ball hit the floor to nail down the 15-11 victory in a five-set marathon, the Lady Cougars on the volleyball court collapsed as one, exhausted and at the same time exhilarated. They won blue banner in the two-hour match at Modesto Junior College on Saturday night, 21-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-23, 15-11.
It was the third straight Section title for Escalon, with the 2019 and 2021 crowns coming in Division 4. There were no playoffs due to COVID in 2020 and, after winning two D4 crowns, the varsity girls were moved up to Division 3 for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs this year. They went into the playoffs as the top seed, coming off a 12-0 league campaign, undefeated champions in the Trans-Valley League. In fact, they had only one loss all season – in tournament play to a Division 1 team (falling 2-1) – and kept that streak going through four rounds in the D3 playoffs.
Escalon won the first round against No. 16 Pioneer, defeated No. 9 Nevada Union in the quarterfinals, took down No. 4 Ponderosa with a 3-2 decision in the semifinals and then capped the stellar season with the 3-2 win over No. 3 Christian Brothers at MJC on Nov. 5.
“Perseverance,” head coach Teresa Williamson said in summing up not only the season but the playoff run for her Lady Cougars. Especially in the final, where they had to do some juggling in the absence of middle blocker Lis Murga, a sophomore, and faced off with a very talented and tenacious Christian Brothers team. “I had to make some changes in the line up a little bit and players stepped up; I thought Sophia Martin played out of her mind and the girls, they just never, ever gave up.”
Escalon had cruised through the first two rounds, winning 3-0, before being pushed to five sets by No. 4 Ponderosa on Nov. 1.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, said Williamson.
“I think it kind of humbled them a little bit, we haven’t had that for a long time,” Williamson said of losing a set.
The team went 32-1 for the season, culminating with its third consecutive blue banner.
“The one loss was to a D1 school that we took to three so I couldn’t be more proud,” Williamson added.
Senior and co-captain Emily Vickers – who celebrated her 18th birthday with a Section championship – picked up her third such honor, having been part of the last two Section title wins as well, in her freshman and junior years.
“This one feels so amazing,” she admitted of the three-peat. “We lost some key players last year but, I mean, nothing was holding us back this year; we knew that this meant so much, especially since we were moving up to Division 3.”
Younger sister Macie Vickers, a junior, saw plenty of court time on Saturday night and made an impact.
“I just knew I had to step up; one, because Emily is leaving and I know that she is one of the most important people on this team, we have to fill that hole for her when she’s not in the back row; I have to step up and be that person,” she said, adding that Christian Brothers gave them everything they could handle in the final. “They were so good; they were a very good team. We just knew we had to work as a team and together and if we didn’t work together, we weren’t going to do it; we had to be a whole, as one.”
It was also important to get the win for their coach, said the junior.
“We love coach Teresa so much, she’s our biggest role model. Everything that she does for this program is amazing, we just knew we had to get this done for her.”
Setter Rylie Lattig, a senior and a co-captain this year, said it came down to teamwork making the difference.
“I absolutely think (losing two sets in the semifinals) it was a good thing because it got us prepared for today and we haven’t gone to five (sets) in two years so definitely going to five the other day helped prepare us for the competition,” she explained of facing the Falcons. “I think we just really wanted it; it came down to who had more heart and I feel like we, as a team, coming from a small town, we had more heart and wanted to bring home another win.”
Trying to put words to the feeling, Mallory Berhorst said it came down to just a few words.
“I’m very overwhelmed and humbled and very happy,” she explained. “We went into that first set not really knowing what to expect; and then we were down and off and it was just a roller coaster. I think our team chemistry, though, just getting so excited on and off the court, people on the bench, people playing, everyone just went crazy for a good play and I feel like that really contributed to our overall excitement.”
Senior libero Faye Hernandez, digging out balls left and right all night long, was another Lady Cougar proudly hoisting the banner.
“It feels awesome, we have been working so hard this season, I’m just so proud of us, honestly,” she said. “Our whole team stepped up, we play as a team, we work as a team every day.”
Already wearing her Section cap and hanging on to her championship patch, Bava said the Christian Brothers Falcons were a worthy opponent.
“We definitely knew it was a challenge but we’ve been working so hard for so long, when it came down to it, I had a feeling that we’d be able to pull it off and I’m just so proud of everyone,” she said. “We worked together, everyone played their part and I’m just really happy and really proud.”
As Bava’s shot hit the floor and she and her teammates celebrated with a group hug on the court, she said it was the perfect way to wrap up a memorable playoff run, helping Coach Williamson go out as a Section champion.
“It was so important; this is what we’ve been working for all year and just to finally get it, we know that hard work has paid off,” Bava said.
