For the fifth straight postseason, Ripon will play for a Sac-Joaquin Section championship after they cruised to a 25-16, 25-13, 25-15 straight set victory over Roseville on Tuesday night, setting up a Division III title game against second-seeded Nevada Union.
“I was really pleased with the volleyball we played tonight,” Ripon head coach Gregory Soliz said. “The energy was there from the opening whistle, and we got contributions from a lot of girls.”
No. 1-seeded Ripon (12-0, 27-4) came into the semifinal against the fourth-seeded Tigers (8-4, 20-18) not having lost a best-of-five match since Sept. 2 at Tracy. Ripon lost exactly one set in TVL play also back in September and has not yet dropped a set on its run to another section title match.
“We really have it going right now,” senior setter Alayna Sprinkle said. “Our coaches have prepared us all season long, and it feels like we are clicking at the right moment heading into the biggest match of the season.”
Roseville showed the grit that had gotten it a spot in the semifinals early in the first set, as the Tigers jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Freshman outside hitter Lilia Tuputala would help Ripon right the ship however, racking up five of her team-high 14 kills in the first set to help Ripon pull away, 25-13. On a team full of postseason experience at key positions, the newcomer Tuputala has been vital to Ripon’s run of success this season.
“This run has been so fun for me as a first-year player,” Tuputala said. “The team has embraced me and helped me grow and get better, and I can't thank my teammates and coaches enough for putting me in the position to contribute in a meaningful way.”
Ripon turned to its duo of experienced outside hitters to keep the momentum going in the second set. Senior Jorie Eskes (12 kills) and junior Ashlyn Malone (10 kills) capitalized on great Ripon serve receive and passes from Sprinkle (33 assists) to keep the Tigers at bay, never really letting the set get close.
“Honestly, it has been so fun playing with this group,” Sprinkle said. “I have been privileged to play with some really good hitters since I started setting and I can’t tell you how cool it is to put the ball up there knowing its about to get smashed over and over again.”
For Soliz, the duo of Eskes and Malone are a huge part of the success the program has had in recent years.
“These girls started with smaller roles as underclassmen and put in the work and are now the backbone of this team,” Soliz said. “When we get ourselves into spots where we need to stop a run or flip momentum, they are there to carry us.”
Estes picked up three quick kills to start off the third set and get Ripon out to a 9-3 lead that Roseville would struggle to come back from. Kills from Tuputala and strong defensive play at the net by Malone and sophomore Reese Bert (3 blocks) stymied Tigers hitters helping Ripon close out the match and seal another trip to a section final.
Awaiting Ripon at Cosumnes River College for Saturday’s final are the Nevada Union Miners of Grass Valley after they swept Ripon Christian 3-0 on the other side of the bracket Tuesday night.
“No matter the opponent, we know we need to play our game,” Soliz said. “At this point in the season, you aren’t teaching them anything new. We’ll get some rest, get some girls off of their feet, get a good practice in before then and hopefully come out playing well on Saturday afternoon.”
Win or lose, Saturday’s final won’t be the last match for Ripon, as semifinalists are guaranteed a spot in the NorCal Regional.
“This team has some big goals,” Sprinkle said. “We have one of them right in front of us on Saturday and then another one will hopefully begin as we try to go as deep as possible with this great group of girls.”
