The Sierra High Timberwolves picked up a thrilling four-set victory — 25-14, 31-29, 18-25, 28-26 — over East Union on Wednesday night to close out their Valley Oak League campaign, as they turn the page towards the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Playoffs next week.
“This was a big win for us,” junior outside hitter Thinh Huynh said. “We’ve been a little bit up and down this season, and to get tested like this going into playoffs will only help us get better and be even more ready.”
The victory marks the fourth straight win for a young Sierra (8-4, 17-8) squad that sees just one senior get significant minutes. East Union (5-7, 9-16) came into the contest also playing well coming off back-to-back wins.
“I am really proud of how we played to close out the season,” EU head coach Tevani Liotard said. “This team had every reason to give up, and they fought and fought, which you saw tonight.”
Sierra looked every bit of their likely top-six seed placement in next week’s playoffs in the first set, cruising to a 25-14 victory in the opener. Junior setter Toan Dow (53 assists) was pivotal in getting the Timberwolves going, spreading the ball to six different teammates that recorded kills.
Liotard’s Lancers would need to regroup if they were to avoid another straight-set loss to the Timberwolves.
“I told them that set was not going to define us and our season,” she said. “You have to have a short memory in this sport, and they were able to put the slow start behind them from the second set on.”
East Union led throughout much of the second set, including the first of six set points at 25-24. Gabriel Estabillo (18 kills) and Jacob Padilla (12 kills) were on the receiving end of some great passing from Lancers setter Isaac Serrato. Led by Dow, Huynh (19 kills) and outside hitter Ole Schmidt (22 kills), Sierra answered back each time East Union pushed the set to the bring. With the match tied 29-29, Huynh recorded back-to-back kills to end a classic set 31-29.
“We just had to dig deep there to finish that set,” Huynh said. “I felt confident in my ability to jump over their blockers, and credit to Toan, he did a great job putting us in good spots.”
East Union proved in the third set that it was not ready to end what had been a season of rebuilding for a squad that also sees just one senior logging significant minutes. Led by Estabillo, Padilla, and great play at the net from middle blocker Julian Khoonsrivong, the Lancers jumped out to a 10-6 lead before finishing off the Timberwolves 25-18 to force a fourth set.
“Julian was huge for us tonight,” Liotard said. “This was the first time he’s been forced into a full-time role, and you never really know how these kids will respond when challenged, and he was up for it plus some.”
Dropping the third set looked to be just the wake up call the Timberwolves needed as they jumped out to a 20-12 lead over the Lancers. Like they had done all night long, East Union battled back to take the lead 25-24 after a great run of play by Padilla. Huynh would again be the go-to for Sierra, capitalizing on two great passes from Dow to cap off the thriller, 28-26.
“That is a really good team over there,” Sierra head coach Danielle Deerinck said. “Obviously, wasn’t thrilled with the way things got away from us after that first set, but to be able to dig deep and pull out a win on senior night means a ton to these kids.”
The win for Sierra locks up a solo third place finish in the Valley Oak League, along with a sixth-place ranking in Division III that would likely earn them at least one home playoff match.
“I’ve been telling this team all season that anything can happen in this sport,” Deerinck said. “Tonight was a good reminder that we need to play each set the best we can from here on out if we’re going to make a run in the postseason.”
