GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Comeback Win Propels Vikes to NorCal Title Match

Behind a comeback win over an elite opponent, the Palo Alto High girls volleyball team now stands two wins away from its ultimate goal – a state championship.

The second-seeded Vikings prevailed 19-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-20 at home over No. 3 seed St. Francis of Sacramento in the Northern California Division I semifinals on Saturday night.

Palo Alto (39-1) plays at top-seeded St. Mary's of Stockton (31-8) for the NorCal title on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The winner heads to the big stage – the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State championship match at San Jose State on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Vikings coach Dave Winn was proud his team regrouped after losing the opening game to St. Francis, the team that eliminated Palo Alto in the NorCal Division II semifinals last year.

"It's tough to put words on it right now," said Winn, whose program heads to the NorCal final for the first time since 2000. "But to do this well, at the right time, at the right place, it's what we've been trying to work on all season long. To see it come together, I don't have words for it."

After being plagued by hitting errors in the first game, Palo Alto's powerful hitters got going. Melanie Wade led the way with 22 kills  and added two blocks and an ace, and Trina Ohms had 15 kills.

Winn called Caroline Martin the "player of the match for her clutch performance." She had a season-high 10 kills and registered three aces and two blocks.

Maddie Kuppe was another versatile contibutor with eight kills, four blocks, 15 digs and an ace. Kimmy Whitson had 53 assists, five kills and two blocks, and Megan Coleman led the defense with 27 digs.

Palo Alto, which has never won a state championship, captured its first Central Coast Section crown by in the Division I final on Nov. 20. The Vikings followed up with over Lincoln of San Francisco.

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