The atmosphere tonight at for Oak Ridge-Christian Brothers in El Dorado Hills was incredible. Standing-room-only crowd, pep band playing Europe's "The Final Countdown," and "Here's your napkin, you just got served" t-shirts - good stuff.
But who was behind it all?
Certainly the Oak Ridge student body deserves a bulk of the credit as the El Dorado Hills campus was adorned with posters advertising "Our biggest rival!" and "Show your Trojan pride!"
Hint: It was a coach.
No, not the one who also happens to be math teacher at Oak Ridge (Becky Potter). Christian Brothers coach Jeff Deter had a hand in creating the atmosphere as he told Kayla Berringer and Kaleigh Durket, both of whom have played for him in club ball, that he was bringing a bus full of Brothers backers up and that they'd better respond in kind. The result was a crowd unlike any other for high school volleyball and one the Trojans used to their advantage in a shellacking of the Falcons.
"That support was incredible," Potter said. "I haven't seen anything like it."
But why would Deter lead his team into the lion's den like that? Simple. It's what Deter does. You'd be hard-pressed to find a craftier, more knowledgeable coach in the area. Deter knows - especially with two losses in league play - that his team will need to win at least one big match on the road in the section playoffs.
The Falcons were third in the section's power ratings released last week, behind Ripon and Vacaville Christian. The Falcons should remain in that slot if they take care of business in their final two games meaning they would play a semifinal match at either Ripon or VC. Ripon is known as an especially difficult place to play, typically with a raucous crowd. The Falcons did win at Ripon earlier in the year, coming back from down two sets.
Deter's scheming benefits Oak Ridge as well. The Trojans are all but guaranteed home matches until the championship round at the Pavilion in Davis, as the Trojans were No. 2 in the D-II power ratings behind Rocklin. Oak Ridge could get the No. 1 seed if the Thunder falters tomorrow at Nevada Union in its SFL finale and the Trojans take care of their final two matches with Vista del Lago and Cordova.
At least one Trojan likes their chances if the crowd persists.
"We fed so much off that energy tonight," Durket said. "I think they'll keep coming out after what they saw tonight and I'll tell ya if we keep it up, we could go to State."
@Nyx.CommentBody@