The Yuba College women’s volleyball team clinched a first place standing (13-1) in the Bay Valley Conference after a forfeit from Contra Costa College on November 16. The Comets were forced to throw the game because they did not have enough players. But the forfeiture was not the way the 49ers wanted to win.
“I was very disappointed,” said Coach Thea Post regarding the forfeit. “It was Sophomore Night, and we had flowers for our ladies, and it was our last home match. We weren’t very happy.”
Rachel Norton, Yuba College sophomore player, echoed the coach’s sentiment. “I felt bad because it was out last home game,” said Norton, “and we didn’t get to have one last home game.”
Although the 49ers were looking forward to a match against the Comets, the Contra Costa forfeiture made a BVC victory for the 49ers the easiest that they could expect. But the BVC win came only after an incredibly strong finish in a season that included matches against Napa Valley, Alameda, Solano and Mendocino Colleges.
The Lady Niners had a 3-1 set (28-30, 30-26, 30-15, 30-25) victory against the Napa Valley ‘Storm’ on November 2, and a 3-0 set (30-11, 30-12, 30-11) victory against the Alameda Lady Cougars on November 4.
Some Yuba fans during the Napa Valley home game were upset by some of the official’s calls. They still had fun, however, generating exciting support for the women’s team. The weather for that game brought few fans, but there was no shortage of support for the 49ers.
On November 9 the Niners plucked the Solano Falcons in a 3-1 set (29-31, 30-26, 30-24, 30-22) win and then went to pluck the Mendocino Eagles 3-2 sets (25-30, 33-31, 27-30, 30-26, 15-10) on November 11.
During the Solano game, the Yuba fans were more quiet than usual, until during the second set when some of the Solano fans invaded the home section of the bleachers. As Solano fans came to their benches, Yuba fans went wild with their chants and banging on the seats, livening up the game and drowning out the Solano fans’ cheers. One man, with a child on his shoulders, waved his shirt around in support of the Forty-Niners.
All of that excitement generated from the game was still flowing, even after the last point was scored, when the fans flowed onto the court and hugged the team, not allowing them to give the traditional post game “good game” hand slap to the Solano Falcons. The victory over Solano made the eighth consecutive win for the 49ers.
Of their successful season, Coach Thea Post said, “I think that these nine young women have worked extremely hard and worked together to improve and to have a successful season. They are champions in my mind.”
Emily Trudgeon, Yuba College freshman player, exclaimed, “It was an awesome season.”
“It was fun,” she continued, “and I think we all grew a lot mentally and physically. Our hard work paid off.”
Their BVC victory took the 49ers to the Regional Playoffs with their first match on November 30 at Butte College, at 7 pm. Their second match of the Regional Playoffs was on Saturday, December 3. The State tournament will be held December 9 through 11 at the Fresno Selland Arena.
“We’ve had some great intense practices,” said Coach Post while preparing for the playoffs. “We know about Butte and their weaknesses and we are going to build our strategy around that.”
“We are playing Butte and they are all tall players,” said Norton, raising her hand to the top of the volleyball net, “so we are working on our defense.”
Editor’s Note: This article went to print the day of the Regional Playoffs on November 30.
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