photo by Charlie McDonald (charlie.mcdonald@surewestsports.com)
by Mike Finnerty (mike.finnerty@surewestsports.com)
The only way to top CIF Section and NorCal volleyball titles is to win a State title, and that's exactly what the Union Mine Diamonbacks girls volleyball team did Saturday at Concordia University in Irvine.
Union Mine beat the two-time defending Division IV State Champions, La Jolla Country Day, 3-1 (25-18, 29-27, 19-25, 25-18) to capture Union Mine's first State title, and only the second State volleyball title in Sacramento history. The other State championship win came back in 2005 when St. Francis prevailed in Division II.
"For this school, this is huge," said Union Mine head coach Mike Yates. "No 'MaxPreps sport' (girls golf has) has ever won a section championship. Only two Sac-Joaquin teams have ever won the State Championship, St. Francis and now us. So that means we are the only public school in this area to take the title."
Senior outside hitter Mikayla Tucker was named the Division IV Most Valuable Player with an outstanding 30 kills in the match. Fellow senior Lea Howton set up her teammates with perfect passes, just as she has done all year long, leading the way with 39 assists.
"Tucker was amazing obviously and we knew she would," said Yates. "Championship players show up in championship situations, breaking the state championship game record with 33 kills was amazing."
For Yates, he sees a key number in the victory.
"That was a big number for us, Andrea Barnes, our youngest player is number 33, I turned 33 years old Thursday, December 1st, Mikayla had 33 kills, it was our 33rd win of the season, and they're coach has been coaching at La Jolla for 33 years," said Yates.
As always for Union Mine, it was a complete team effort, and it had to be to finish off the season with a State Championship. Senior Madison Berridge joined Tucker and Howton on the Division IV All-Championship team.
"Everyone did their part. Maddie's defense was amazing, Lea setting could not have been better, Sarah's blocking, everyone brought their best game. Team defense, I preach it, ball control, it's not the wow factor, it doesn't sell tickets, but it sure wins games. We won the ball control battle by a land slide."
The Diamondbacks are unconventional in volleyball terms from the standpoint that they are not a tall team with only two players who are 5'9" and taller. Junior Sarah Phillis is 5'9" and Jacqueline Swarbrick stands at 5'11". Tucker, the team's best player, is only 5'8", and the coach will also tell you that he's certainly unconventional as well.
"For me as a coach this is validation," said Yates. "I'm not conventional I wear sweat pants, flip flops, look like a beach bum on the sidelines, not your typical polo shirt and slacks coach. But I believe that it's not about me, it's about them. If my baseball cap and sweats makes them comfortable and provides a positive learning environment, then that's what I'll do. Get your team's trust, get your team to believe that you are there to help them become better players and better people and there are no limits."
Congratulations to the Division IV State Champion Union Mine Diamondbacks
Roster: Ashley Reese (Sr.), Lea Howton (Sr.), Jacqueline Swarbrick (Sr.), Savannah Rye (Sr.), Malia Gonzales (Sr.), Mikayla Tucker (Sr.), Sarah Phillis (Jr.), Jordan Buxton (Jr.), Amy Pedretti (Sr.), Maddy Berridge (Sr.), Andrea Barnes (So.)