South Placer girls' volleyball roundup: Multiple area teams secure playoff spots

We have officially made it to the final week of the regular season for high school girls' volleyball and multiple teams are looking to win their final matches prior to the section playoffs next week. And Sierra College and William Jessup University are in the thick of conference action and are also looking to pick up key wins. Here is a look at how all teams in the South Placer region have performed as of late. Sierra Foothill League The Whitney Wildcats secured second-place in the Sierra Foothill League with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-15 win over Granite Bay High on Tuesday night. Senior Jenna Kraft led the Lady Wildcats with nine kills while Evelyn Hill had eight kills. Katelyn Cochran finished the match with seven kills and five aces. Whitney High took early leads in the first and second sets before the Grizzlies made it close in the middle of both sets. The Wildcats ultimately finished both sets strong and dominated in the final set. They were down their starting libero, Alyssa Eimer, to illness. "I have to get my team healthy, that is the main focus and we have been battling illness for the last two weeks," Wildcats coach Kami Kazel said. "We have a lot of talent and then have a depth of talent; that is what has been amazing. I knew that coming into this season, we would be something special and they all work together so well. They are the most bonded team I have ever coached." Whitney High will most likely be the top seed going into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoffs and face Rocklin High on Thursday, after press time. Granite Bay High junior outside hitter Malia Pilimai led the Grizzlies attack against the Wildcats with eight kills while Lucy Harmer had five kills. Pilimai has led in kills all season while junior Mia Urosevic is second in kills and aces and leads the team in digs. The Grizzlies close out their season against Del Oro High on the road on Thursday, after press time. Rocklin High will finish with at least a share of third-place in the league, despite losing in three sets against Oak Ridge High on Tuesday. The Thunder won four matches in a row prior to their loss to the Trojans, including three-set victories over Granite Bay and Del Oro to clinch a spot in the postseason. They have been led by freshman Gianna Bogan, who has totaled 200 kills on the season. "What has contributed to my attacking is the confidence the team and our coaches have in me and I have in myself, just ripping away at every ball and not being afraid to take chances," Bogan said. "I look up to all my senior teammates for leadership and experience. I have a special relationship with all of them and all my teammates." Del Oro is currently 11-9 and will also qualify for the postseason with a fifth-place finish in the league. The Lady Eagles defeated American Canyon in three sets on Saturday before losing in four sets to Folsom on Tuesday. Capital Valley Conference Woodcreek and Roseville entered the final week of the regular season with both the Timberwolves and the Tigers having a chance at finishing first in the Capital Valley Conference. The Lady Timberwolves are 16-17 overall and lost their last three matches in a tournament, but are 8-3 in league competition. Woodcreek High has won two of their last three league games against Antelope and the first-place Bella Vista Broncos. They have been led by seniors Cady Hatch and Skyla Graham, who have combined for 333 kills this season. Graham has also played solid defensively with 31 blocks while Hatch has 214 digs. "One thing that has contributed to my front row attacking has been trying to swing where they are not and finding open shots," Hatch said. "Some of the biggest strengths that we have had as a unit include our defense, covering and serving. Going into the playoffs, we need to get out of serve receive faster and put the ball down more. It will take all of us to want to win and be very competitive to go on a run in the postseason." Woodcreek High finished the regular season against River Valley on Thursday, after press time, and will be in the section playoffs which start on Tuesday. Roseville High lost in four sets to Yuba City on Tuesday and faced Bella Vista on Wednesday. The Broncos beat the Tigers in five sets in their first encounter back on Sept. 27. The Tigers are currently 16-7 and have won five of their last six matches. Foothill Valley League The West Park Panthers lost their final match of the season 23-25, 12-25, 25-18, 18-25 against Lincoln High on Wednesday but finished the season with 17 wins, nine more than in 2021. The Panthers also won their first set against the Zebras on Wednesday and had a number of players step up on the attacking front. Junior Ava Pham led the way with 10 kills, including the set-winning kill in the third set. "It felt amazing to get that kill and the adrenaline just took over for all of us," Pham said. "We have come so far since the beginning of this program and I think we will only get better from here." Freshman Xanthe Ocampo had eight kills while junior Julianne Pail had six kills. Sophomore Brooke Gumo totaled four kills and three blocks. Oakmont High finished its season this week with losses to Nevada Union on Monday and Placer on Wednesday. While the Vikings were only able to win one match, they are only graduating two seniors and will be returning a plethora of talent, who will have more experience come 2023. Sierra College The Wolverines entered the week fifth in the Big 8 Conference standings at 5-3 but are only one game back of second-place and have won their last two matches against Cosumnes River and Sacramento City Colleges. Rilee Macomber has led the attack with 29 kills in the last two outings while Courtney Clexton has 28. Macomber is second for Sierra College in kills and blocks this season with 157 and 48, respectively. "I have been working on diversifying where I attack from on the court and zones to attack relative to the types of defense I see," Macomber said. "We have a great group that is trying to get better every day. Ultimately, we have to take care of our side of the ball and our focus is trying to get grittier on defense and diversify our attacking so we can score more efficiently." Clexton has led in serving, along with Alexis Adebodun with 33 aces each while Veronika Tupy is first on the team in kills with 192. The Lady Wolverines will play American River College on the road on Friday before traveling to Santa Rosa Junior College on Wednesday. William Jessup University The Lady Warriors have won their last five matches, including a 25-18, 25-15, 25-22 win over the number 21-ranked Vanguard University on Saturday. Mariana Gonzalez and Whitney High alumna Madalyn Miller led the attack with both totaling 14 kills in the contest. The duo has combined for 363 kills this season. Sophomore Lauren Toon has led in serving with 35 aces and has been big on the defensive end with 253 digs. William Jessup University is 7-5 in the Golden State Athletic Conference and will face Menlo College away on Saturday. Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League Valley Christian Academy locked up a playoff spot and third- place in the Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League with a 17-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-13 win over Buckingham Charter on Saturday. The Lions finished league competition at 8-4 after another four-set win over Buckingham Charter on Tuesday and will begin section playoffs next Thursday. Four senior Lions were honored with flowers and balloons following their win against Faith Christian on Oct. 13. The players include Kalista Larson, Christelle Williams, Joan John and Angela Poshelyuznyy. Western Sierra Collegiate Academy finished 4-15, following a loss against Sacramento Country Day to end the regular season on Tuesday. The Wolves won three league matches this season against Faith Christian, Cristo Rey and Buckhingham Charter and were led by sophomore Willow Davis and senior Lauren Johnson. John Adams Academy The Lady Patriots of John Adams Academy earned a share of the Northern Pacific Athletic Conference title with a win over Leroy Greene Academy on Tuesday. They won each of their last seven matches to secure their second straight league title and will compete in the Division V playoffs, starting on Tuesday.