Schools
Season They Won't Soon Forget
San Ramon Valley girls' volleyball team ousted from the state tournament, but it took a national power to end it.
It took one of the highest-ranking prep teams in the nation to end San Ramon Valley High School's girls' volleyball season -- an inspired run the Lady Wolves won't soon forget.
San Ramon finished 35-9 on Saturday after losing in straight sets to Palo Alto in the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation Northern California Division I playoffs.
The Lady Knights, top seeds and defending state champs, are ranked No. 21 in MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings and No. 12 nationally in the Powerade Fab 50 by ESPNHS.
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San Ramon Valley senior standout Erin Sherwood provided 13 kills, 10 digs and four aces, but the Wolves lost 25-20, 25-23, 25-13 to a Palo Alto team that features 6-foot-5 senior Melanie Wade, who is one of only two California girls named to the sixth annual Under Armour Girls High School All-America team.
San Ramon Valley advanced to the match against Palo Alto by beating Skyline of Oakland in three games (25-9, 25-6, 25-14) in the C.I.F. NorCal bracket quarterfinals.
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"It was definitely a good season for the girls," San Ramon coach Tom Bauhs said. "They felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment."
In his sixth season as the girls' varsity coach, Bauhs saw his team work its way out of a midseason lull to share the East Bay Athletic League title with Foothill, win the North Coast Section crown with a four-game decision over the rival Falcons from Pleasanton and come within two steps of a state crown.
"We had a couple injuries and two illnesses at midseason, but once the girls got back we made one lineup change and we just rolled from there," Bauhs said.
In addition to crediting the girls for hard work and dedication, Bauhs singled out co-coach Brian Fujinaga for "being as much the head coach as I was thanks to all his help, especially when I had to be away for business."
With five departing seniors, the Wolves have to be excited that the future remains bright as well. San Ramon figures to welcome back nine players in all, including three starters and with both the junior varsity and freshman teams having experience success, the foundation is in place for more winning.
"We're not looking at too much rebuilding, that's for sure," Bauhs said.
Just the same, San Ramon will miss Sherwood, who was honored as the EBAL's most valuable player.
"You could call her the heart and soul of our team," Bauhs said.
Sherwood's fellow senior teammates included Sarah Board, Jane Humphrey, Minari Karunatilake and Elizabeth Schmahl.
The remainder of the roster included juniors Maddie Back, Jacqueline Lageson, Kelsey Nyland, Emily Reder, Lauren Regan and Kristen Van Fossen; sophomores Kate Berry, Madi Laird, Claire Moore and Noelle Vleisides, and freshman Rachel Braunschweig.
