Hamilton tops East Nicolaus for Division IV championship

RED BLUFF — East Nicolaus High volleyball coach Christopher Abruscato was pleased with the efforts of his players, despite the fact they had just lost their second straight Northern Section Division IV championship to Hamilton.

"The girls played well, we just couldn't capitalize," he said.

Spartans setter Haley Uhland had a more sobering view of Saturday's 27-25, 25-22. 25-18 defeat.

"We went into the match thinking we were going to win, that they were going to roll over and play dead," she said. "We couldn't hold it together."

Earlier this season, the Spartans topped their Mid-Valley League nemesis in five games. This match had the same feel early, but the difference was the Braves' defense, Hamilton coach Erin Johnson said.

"We stepped up our defense, it was huge," she said. "We played much better defensively this time."

In the opening game, the Spartans had a 19-13 lead before Hamilton roared back with an 8-1 run. The Braves would take the first game after a pair of errors gave them the two point cushion needed to take the first step toward the repeat.

"The whole match was tight," Abruscato said. "We were passing well, serving well and hitting well."

Problem for the Spartans was, Hamilton was doing each of those things even better.

Much of the credit goes to standout sophomore Aubrey Bekendam. Despite being 5-foot-9, the outside hitter tallied a game-high 16 kills while spiking through the hands of players like 6-foot-4 Stephanie Hagins and similarly towering Juliet Conant.

"She's a very strong and smart hitter," Uhland said.

Hamilton was down 21-18 in the second game before putting together a 6-1 run. The strong finish pleased their coach, who now has led the team to the first to section titles in the school's history.

"This is what I've been so proud of with my team, they don't give up," Johnson said. "They fight to the bitter end."

Uhland finished with 26 assists and nine digs, Hagins had 14 kills and two blocks and Conant tallied 11 kills, seven digs and four blocks for the Spartans, who still have the state playoffs on the schedule.

For Uhland, the goal will be the same whoever the team faces — be mentally ready.

"We need to keep our mentality up and our mindset high," she said. "Last year we went to state and got smashed, hopefully we can have a stronger attitude and play our game, East Nicolaus' game."