Ursuline upends Piner

<p>Ursuline volleyball is on the upswing. On Tuesday night the Bears defeated Piner on the road, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22. However, as sweet as a North Bay League win is these days, the Bears are looking forward to getting back to the North Coast Section playoffs.</p><p>Third-year coach Bruce Le and Amber Oden, his co-coach this season, feel the stiff competition in the NBL will give the Bears an edge over many of the foes they will face in Division IV. </p><p>With the likes of Maria Carrillo, the defending section II champs, Montgomery and Rancho Cotate on their league schedule, the Bears have compiled a more than respectable 6-3 league record and are 13-8 overall. </p><p>“In the playoffs, we will play teams that are better match-ups for us,” said Le, using Justin Siena and Tamalpais as teams he calls the upper crust of Div. IV. “It’s been a long time since we were in the sections, probably a decade or more.”</p><p>Le is anticipating beefing up the Bears’ overall record with a top-four finish in the NBL playoffs, the first volleyball league postseason tournament.</p><p>“There are, of course playoffs in basketball and baseball, but there hasn’t been one in volleyball,” he said, then added that Carrillo, Rancho and Montgomery are the probable top three teams.</p><p>Against Piner, Le had the opportunity to use a variety of combinations. Ellery Young led the Bears with 12 kills. Rachael Rocchioli added nine. Jessica Biddulph and Young each had 20 digs, while setter Sarah Bertolli had 24 assists on just 30 touches.</p><p>Le said the consistent effort from Bertolli has been a major factor in the Bears improved record. And, their much-improved play from the middle also has made a difference, he said. </p><p>“These girls have come a long way. At first there was some uncertainty,” said Oden, who played at Santa Rosa and Santa Rosa JC. “They trust us now. This group has been amazing. They pull together when it’s an uphill battle.”</p><p>Against the Prospectors, Le used all 12 on his roster.</p><p>The Prospectors kept the first set pretty close with Tori Furze and Ari Samaduroff leading the way. Furze had four kills and Samaduroff three, but the potent front line combination of Rocchioli, Young and Tara Puccioni, along with several timely kills from Mackenzie Mangino was too much for the inexperienced Prospectors. </p><p>At 23-21, Mangino finished off the first set with two kills and a block at the net for the final point. Young and Liz Davison played well for the Bears. It was more of the same in the second set. Piner did lead briefly, beginning the set with a pair of aces from Samaduroff. The Bears quickly assumed control, though, and used a seven-point run halfway through the set to lead 16-4. </p><p>In set three the Prospectors (2-7, 3-11) fell behind 10-3 and 13-6 before climbing back to within three points at 18-15. Young increased the Bears advantage to 19-15 with a kill from the middle and the Bears were never really threatened from there forward. The Prospectors rallied to save six match points with stellar defensive play before Samaduroff’s hard shot carried long.</p><p>That the crucial point in set three came from the middle was indicative of the Bears newfound confidence and a style that has brought the middle blockers into the offense. The Bears, normally a good serving team, had problems, serving a lower percentage than Le would like. </p><p>“Yeah, our service game is usually at a much higher percentage,” he said. “We have improved a lot in the middle. Last year we didn’t use the middle much.”</p><p>But with Young patrolling the middle and knocking down kills with regularity, that part of the Bears’ game has become a strength. Add in Bertolli’s passing expertise and you can see why Le and Oden are excited and looking forward to the playoffs.</p>