The No. 23 nationally-ranked, according to Maxpreps.com, Pitman Pride Volleyball team (44-1) continued their winning ways in the CIF State Championship Tournament to win the NorCal Championship Tuesday night over Menlo-Atherton High School (30-4) in Turlock.
It was a back and forth battle as Menlo-Atherton took the first set 29-27 but the Pride bounced back to win the second 25-22. Menlo-Atherton put the Pride on the edge of elimination with 25-17 win in the third set, but the Pride again rebounded to tie the match 25-17.
In the final set the Pride took a five-point lead 12-7 and never looked back to win the set 15-13 and the NorCal Championship.
After the Pride captured the Sac-Joaquin Section Championships on Nov. 22 they have been untouchable and played inspired volleyball.
Last week the Pride cruised past Oakland Tech High School in three games (25-11, 25-14, 25-6) and on Saturday they came from behind to defeat San Ramon Valley (25-18, 25-23, 25-15) to earn a direct shot at the NorCal Championship.
Against San Ramon Valley senior outside hitter Lindsey Vander Weide, who is headed to play for the Oregon Ducks next year, had 16 kills and senior setter Maddy Halteman, who will play for the Fresno State Bulldogs, contributed 25 assists.
The Pride will take on the winner of the SoCal bracket Redondo Union (37-2) this Saturday in Southern California’s Santiago Canyon College in Orange at 8 p.m. for the State Championship.
The Pride Volleyball team embrace seconds after winning the NorCal Championship.
Brad Treadwell – Treadwell Photography/TurlockCityNews.com
