Among the North Coast Section girls volleyball semifinals set for 7 p.m. Saturday, seven involve at least one local team. Here’s a look at the local teams in those matchups.
DIVISION 1
No. 1 Monte Vista hosting No. 4 Liberty
- The defending champion Mustangs (30-5) swept College Park and San Leandro in the first two rounds, respectively. They lost just once in the hyper-competitive EBAL and recently took second at the strong Northgate Varsity Tournament despite dealing with injuries — though their health is improved now as they ready to face a team they beat 3-1 in their season opener.
- The Lions (31-9) cruised through BVAL play undefeated and swept Dublin in the first round of the playoffs before battling Amador Valley in a four-set win in the quarterfinals. They’re looking to win the school’s first NCS title since a three-peat from 2003-2005.
No. 2 Foothill hosting No. 6 James Logan
- The Falcons (30-6) haven’t lost since Oct. 8, a stretch that includes dealing Monte Vista it’s only league loss and a run through the Dougherty Valley Invitational. They swept Freedom and California in the first two rounds and can thank James Logan for dispensing of San Ramon Valley, the last team to beat them.
- Not only did the Colts (29-5) upset San Ramon Valley in the quarterfinals, they did so in a sweep — which they didn’t even accomplish in the first round, a four-set win over Deer Valley. They went unbeaten in MVAL play this season and won the Irvington Tournament title.
DIVISION 2
No. 3 Granada at No. 2 Maria Carillo-Santa Rosa
- The Matadors (16-12) started the playoffs on a bye before downing Clayton Valley Charter in four sets in the quarterfinals. Though they went 6-8 in EBAL play, two of their wins came against California and took a set off Foothill.
- The Pumas (26-8) went unbeaten through their league for the third straight season behind a trio of third-year varsity players and beat Carondelet 3-1 in the quarterfinals.
DIVISION 3
No. 1 Campolindo hosting No. 4 Acalanes
- Like last year, the Cougars (24-11) will face league foe Acalanes at this stage after beating them twice in DFAL play. They went to four tough tournaments this year and fared only decently well, though easily downed Albany after a first-round bye.
- The Dons (17-7) bounced defending NCS champion Sonoma Valley in a sweep, the same fashion in which they beat Moreau Catholic to open the playoffs. They have not beat Campolindo in their last 25 tries but they did take a set off the Cougars this year for the first time since 2007.
No. 2 Bishop O’Dowd hosting No. 11 Sir Francis Drake-San Anselmo
- The Dragons (24-12) swept El Cerrito and Miramonte in the first two rounds and face upstart Drake, which edged No. 3 seed San Marin in five sets. The Dragons tested themselves at five tournaments this year, including the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona, and were unbeaten in league play for the fourth straight season. The Pirates upset San Marin in four sets after dropping a five-set decision to the Novato school 18 days earlier. They were fifth in their league but won their playoff opener over Analy-Sebastapol in four sets.
DIVISION 5
No. 1 Head-Royce hosting No. 5 University-San Francisco
- The lone loss for the Jayhawks (34-1) came against defending Division 2 champion Redwood-Larkspur in the Northgate Varsity Tournament. They’ve rarely been challenged this year, dropping only six sets all season, including playoff sweeps of Oakland Military Institute and St. Vincent de Paul-Petaluma. Among those matches is also two wins over University, once at home and once at a tournament.
DIVISION 6
No. 6 California School for the Deaf at No. 1 San Francisco Waldorf
- After going undefeated in BCL play, the Eagles (20-10) downed Rincon Valley Christian in the first round of the playoffs. That brings them to a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which went SF Waldorf’s way en route to the D6 section title. SF Waldorf won the teams’ previous matchup in a sweep.