For the second straight year, the SRJC volleyball team cruised to the CCCAA state championship game to face the L.A. Pierce College Brahmas and for the second straight year, SRJC lost. The Bear Cubs entered the playoffs as the second seed from Northern California behind the Cabrillo College Seahawks, but SRJC was able to defeat the Seahawks during the third round of the state championship tournament.
The Bear Cubs compiled an incredible overall record of 30-4 while going 14-1 in conference play. The squad also ended the season undefeated at home.
Entering this year, SRJC was ranked third in the state behind eventual state champs L.A. Pierce and Cabrillo. The Bear Cubs began the season on a 24-1 winning streak dominating their opponents. During that winning streak SRJC only dropped seven sets.
SRJC defeated No. 15 ranked Siskiyous in the first round of the playoffs in three straight sets. In the second round, the Bear Cubs beat No. 7 ranked Fresno in a five-set battle. During the third and final round of the playoffs against conference rival American River SRJC won in three sets. The Bear Cubs defeated American River in the last match of the season to grab the Big 8 conference title.
During the state championship tournament, SRJC played four games in two days and lost two of those games to L.A. Pierce. On Dec. 3, the Bear Cubs played their first game of the championship tournament when they lost to the Brahmas in five sets. However 30 minutes later, SRJC was able to defeat No. 1 seed Cabrillo in four sets proving the Bear Cubs were the best team in Northern California.
The next day on Dec. 4, SRJC beat El Camino in five sets advancing to the state final against the Brahmas. Earlier that day L.A. Pierce also defeated El Camino in five sets.
Entering the state final, SRJC had just won a grueling five set game and the squad was just not ready for a rested L.A. Pierce squad. The Bear Cubs, who had 30 minutes to rest before the state championship, lost to the Brahmas in three straight sets.
Because L.A. Pierce won its previous matches, under the double elimination format, SRJC would have had to beat the Brahmas twice to earn a state title. Last year, the scenario was the same.
Sophomores Sam Siebert, Karimah Hay and freshman Olivia Urban all earned CCCAA All-Tournament team selections. Siebert and fellow sophomore Taylor Nelson also earned All-State team selections.
With many freshmen gaining experience from sophomores Siebert, Nelson and Hay along with a deep state title run, SRJC is aiming for another state championship appearance involving a different ending.