We Speak Volleyball

Cardinal Newman Rallies From Two Sets Down to Beat Saint Mary’s 3-2 and Reach the NCS Semifinals

Published

55 minutes ago

November 2, 2026

A Cardinal Newman player attacks against the Saint Mary's block during the NCS quarterfinal.

Photo courtesy of Cardinal Newman Athletics.

For the second time in four days, Cardinal Newman erased a two-set deficit on the road to keep its season alive, rallying past Saint Mary’s 3-2 on Saturday afternoon in the North Coast Section Division 2 quarterfinals. The Cardinals dropped the first two sets 25-22 and 25-23, then stormed back to win 25-18, 25-20 and 15-7 at Saint Mary’s in Albany.

Newman actually built a 20-15 lead in the second set before Saint Mary’s rallied to take it, leaving the Cardinals one set from elimination for the second straight match. On Wednesday, the fifth seeded Cardinals had done the same thing to Granada, winning 3-2 after trailing 2-0 in the first round.

Junior outside hitter Emma Donnelly led the comeback with a team high 21 kills after a slow start in the first two sets. Freshman Kensi Grover delivered 18 kills and 18 digs, and junior Gracie Acosta added 13 kills. Junior setter Addison Smith ran the offense with 55 assists and 12 digs, while Sabina Walsh had nine digs and three aces and senior Jordan Espinosa served five aces.

Head coach Daryl Kapis credited the serve receive passing of Adeline Brockett, Walsh, Teneli Galli and Grover for turning the match. “The four of them were the main stars of the game because of how well they passed in serve receive,” Kapis said.

The win improved Newman to 19-10 and avenged two losses to Saint Mary’s over the past year, including last season’s section semifinal. Across their first two playoff matches, the Cardinals have won all six sets they have played while facing elimination. Newman now travels to face top seeded Branson in the semifinals on Wednesday, November 4.

We Speak Volleyball

Amador Goes on the Road and Knocks Off Mariposa County 3-1 in the Playoff Opener

Published

38 minutes ago

November 2, 2026

We Speak Media

The Amador volleyball players pose on the team bus during the trip to Mariposa.

Photo courtesy of Amador Volleyball.

Amador made the long trip to Mariposa County on Tuesday night and came home with a playoff win, beating the Grizzlies 3-1 in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs.

The Buffaloes took the opening set 25-22, dropped a tight second set 26-24, and then took over the match. Amador won the third set 25-19 and closed out the fourth 25-15 to finish off one of the bigger road wins of the opening round anywhere in the section.

The result was no small feat. Mariposa County entered the playoffs as the undefeated Southern League champion, 14-0 in league play, and the Grizzlies had not lost a league match in 42 straight outings dating back through their run of dominance, according to The Mariposan. Their only losses all season had come against larger schools, and they were playing at home in front of their own crowd.

None of that slowed the Buffaloes, who turned the night into a team celebration. The program’s own social post from the trip called it a fierce fight for the win after the long ride south, a bus trip, and a stop on the way. After dropping the second set, Amador answered with its two most comfortable sets of the night to seal the upset.

The win advanced Amador to the Division V quarterfinals, where the Buffaloes’ run ended Thursday with a 3-1 loss at Bret Harte. Mariposa County closed a standout season at 27-11, its league championship streak stopped one match into the postseason by a Sutter Creek team that refused to be intimidated.