Ripon Christian’s boys volleyball team mounted an historic run to its first Sac-Joaquin Section and NorCal championships, and Joel Van Groningen was at the center of it.
The 6-foot-4 junior outside hitter has been voted MVP of the Southern Athletic League, and three other Knights were tabbed as all-league players. Kevin Tameling earned Coach of the Year.
Ripon Christian did not lose a set in going 6-0 in league. The Division IV champ at the SJS and California Interscholastic Federation regional levels finished 28-1 overall.
Van Groningen was one of the most prolific attacking players in the state, both at the net and from the service line. He amassed 446 kills (five per set) and 107 aces overall, ranked ninth and third most in the state, respectively, according to stats submitted to MaxPreps. Defensively, he contributed 26 blocks. Van Groningen was among the local standouts to be named to the inaugural SJS All-Section boys volleyball team.
Also making the All-SAL team were junior outside hitter Josiah Reif, junior setter/right-side hitter Justin Hofman and junior middle blocker Griffin de Abreu.
Reif was another big swinger for the Knights, finishing second on the team with 264 kills (2.9 per set) to go with 65 aces and 22 blocks. Hofman showed his versatility as one of RC’s two setters. He handed out 404 assists while chipping in 100 kills, 35 aces and 31 blocks. De Abreu emerged at middle blocker after senior Silas Vander Woude went down with a season-ending injury. De Abreu posted 113 kills and a team-high 55 blocks.
Vander Woude earned honorable mention, as did sophomore setter/right-side hitter Preston Zuidervaart.
BASEBALL
The Knights (10-4 SAL, 17-9-1 overall) are well-represented on the all-league team after placing third.
Catcher Grant Sonke is one of the five Knights to make the list. He had a highly-productive sophomore campaign in which he finished third in the SJS with 47 runs scored and first with 36 steals. His .429 batting average .529 led the team. Sonke also had 13 doubles, four triples and 23 RBIs.
Junior first baseman Jacob Kowes hit .391 and drove in 31 runs. Shortstop/pitcher Eli Terpsma hit .375 with 21 RBIs while going 3-0 from the mound with a tidy 0.48 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 29 innings.
Senior Micah English was also a two-way producer, adding a .306 average and 21 RBIs on offense and along with a 3-3 pitching record, 2.96 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 45 innings. Sophomore hurler Dustin Hoekstra went 6-2 from the mound with a 1.88 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 56 innings.
Ethan Reif received honorable mention.
MVP honors went to Le Grand’s Aaron Martinez. Jake Ogilby of SAL champion Mariposa was named Best Offensive Player. Orestimba’s Ian Cerutti is the Most Valuable Pitcher.
Shelby Terra is Ripon Christian’s lone all-leaguer after helping the team qualify for the postseason with a 6-6 record in the SAL (6-12 overall).
Terra hit .444 in league play, also netting three triples, and nine RBIs. Maclaira Camper and pitcher Teagan Chapman made the honorable-mention list.
