No. 11 seed Rio Americano has achieved one of the biggest numerical upsets of the Sac-Joaquin Section girls volleyball playoffs in Division II.
But to hear the Raiders' side of it, despite many injuries and eligibility factors, their 7 p.m. Tuesday semifinal at second-seeded Rocklin (31-6) is where they planned to be all along.
"Even at the end of last season, I was thinking of how good this team could be," Raiders coach John Grix said. "We're exactly where we should be."
For the first half of the season, Grix had a roster of just seven eligible players. He now has only 10 as the Raiders (29-10) have overcome injuries and adversity to earn road victories in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
First came a 45-minute shellacking of sixth-seeded River Valley of Yuba City (15-8) followed by a sweep of old Capital Athletic League rival Bella Vista (26-9), a No. 3 seed, in last Thursday's second round.
What looked to be a dream season for the Raiders, who have not advanced this far in the playoffs since 2005, quickly became a nightmare.
Junior middle blocker Emma Voight injured her knee two points into the team's first scrimmage and was ruled out for the season.
Senior Helen Dobeck turned an ankle in the scrimmage and was hindered for a few weeks.
Junior setter Jen Petrovich, a St. Francis transfer, was not cleared to play by the CIF until three weeks into the season.
"We just go with the flow; we're that kind of a team," Grix said. "The girls were always upbeat. It showed we have depth and can compete with seven or eight (players)."
Ruthless, efficient hitting from junior middle blocker Maddie Cannon and senior rightside hitter Erika Tabor has powered the Raiders' playoff run.
Tabor is back from a knee injury that idled her the first half of the season. She has combined with Cannon for 42 kills and a .603 hitting percentage in the playoffs.
Hillgals rolling in D-III – Sixth-seeded Placer (22-8) survived Whitney (22-14) – featuring then-state kills leader Kaylin Squyres – in a four-game win in last Tuesday's first round in Auburn.
The Hillgals' strong serve game and use of athletic seniors Michaela Leonard and Kirstin Schauble as setters and hitters stifled the Wildcats.
"We just did what we've been doing all season," coach Jennifer Wright said. "We knew (Squyres) was their big gun, so we keyed in on her."
The Hillgals next swept No. 3 seed Rosemont (21-6) on the road to set up a semifinal against defending Division III champion Vista del Lago (33-9) at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Folsom.
Usual suspects in title hunt – Three of the four teams with the most section championships are in position to win another banner.
Ripon Christian (14 championships), St. Mary's of Stockton (12) and St. Francis (10) play in semifinal matches Tuesday. Linden (11) last made the playoffs in 2008.
SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
(All finals Thursday at UC Davis)
DIVISION I
Tuesday's semifinals
Granite Bay at St. Francis, 7 p.m.
St. Mary's-Stockton at Oak Ridge, 7 p.m.
Final: 6 p.m.
DIVISION II
Tuesday's semifinals
Del Oro at El Camino, 7 p.m.
Rio Americano at Rocklin, 7 p.m.
Final: 8 p.m.
DIVISION III
Tuesday's semifinals
Oakdale at Christian Bros., 7 p.m.
Placer at Vista del Lago, 7 p.m.
Final: 8 p.m.
DIVISION IV
Tuesday's semifinals
Bear River at Escalon, 7 p.m.
Bret Harte-Angels Camp at Union Mine, 7 p.m.
Final: 6 p.m.
DIVISION V
Tuesday's semifinals
Capital Christian at Ripon Christian, 7 p.m.
Le Grand at Bradshaw Christian, 7 p.m.
Final: 4 p.m.
DIVISION VI
Final
Sacramento Country Day vs. Victory Christian, 4 p.m.
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John Parker can be reached at johnparker2008@gmail.com.
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