November 17th 2024.
The Archbishop Mitty volleyball team is back at the top, where they believe they belong. Last week, they were defeated by St. Ignatius in the Central Coast Section Open Division semifinals, a loss they were not expecting. However, they were given a second chance in the NorCal Open Division tournament, and they have certainly made the most of it so far.
After a four-day break, the Monarchs returned to their home court and swept No. 4 Marin Catholic in a dominating victory. They followed this up with another impressive win against No. 8 Rocklin, led by their former coach Bret Almazan-Cezar. The match ended with set scores of 25-17, 25-19, 25-18, earning Mitty a well-deserved spot in the finals.
Head coach Jon Wallace expressed his pride in his team's response to their previous loss, stating that they were determined to take advantage of every opportunity they had. Their practices became more competitive and everyone was fully committed to their roles on the court. Wallace was impressed with the consistency and focus displayed by his players, regardless of their performance. He credited their toughness and resilience, especially when faced with challenges during the match.
The Monarchs were uncertain if they would have another chance to play at home this season, but Rocklin's surprising upset over top-seeded Branson gave them one more shot. It was a fitting turn of events, with Almazan-Cezar being the coach behind Rocklin's success. He had an iconic run at Mitty from 2000 to 2020, leading the team to 11 state championships. Wallace acknowledged Almazan-Cezar's immense contribution to the program, stating that he laid the foundation for the Monarchs' success.
As Almazan-Cezar returns to his former stomping grounds in his first year as Rocklin's coach, he is focused on building another elite program. He was happy to see familiar faces at Mitty, but he reminded his team to stay grounded and focused on each moment. He emphasized the importance of winning every moment and not getting caught up in the hype surrounding the match.
For Mitty, their loss to SI was a wake-up call. Wallace used this as a chance to motivate his team, telling them that it would be beneficial for them to play on the road. He believed that it would make them tougher and more focused, and their win against Marin Catholic on the road proved just that. Now, they are fully prepared to face St. Francis in the NorCal Open finals on Tuesday in Mountain View.
Wallace hopes that his team's newfound consistency and focus will continue, regardless of the location or circumstances. He knows that they will have to play on the road regardless, as their previous loss changed their trajectory. But he is confident that the Monarchs are up for the challenge and will continue to impress with their resilience and determination.
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