Girls volleyball: Marin Academy tops San Rafael, advances to title game

The Marin Academy High girls volleyball team can check off another accomplishment for this season: beat its cross-town rival.

Now the Wildcats have even loftier goals as they are in position to claim their second North Coast Section title in three years.

Top-seeded MA swept the No. 4 San Rafael 25-15, 25-15, 25-19 on Wednesday to advance to Saturday’s Division IV section title match.

The Wildcats (24-12) host No. 2 Head-Royce, which won its semifinal match in four games over third-seeded St. Mary’s of Albany. The finals match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

“We have to be excited about what we have and being there for each other,” said setter Gabby Grujic, who led the Wildcats with 32 assists to go with 10 digs and two blocks against San Rafael. “Honestly, just going for the title. We want to win again.”

MA is hoping for a different outcome than last year when it was swept by Cardinal Newman in the D-IV title game.

The Wildcats, who haven’t dropped a set in their two NCS matches, cruised to a 25-15 victory in the opening set against the Bulldogs (17-13). Ellie Corsello recorded the final point for her squad with a block from her middle position.

MA’s momentum quickly evaporated to start the second game. San Rafael jumped out to a 9-1 lead behind eight consecutive service points — including a pair of aces — from Elsa Kehoe (19 digs, three kills).

After MA called a timeout, the Wildcats went on a run of their own.

“We were able to settle down a little bit … the timeout helped,” MA coach Craig Wong said. “Giving them a chance to catch their breath, reset and understand the next-point mentality.”

With lefty Tess Etem delivering four of her five kills on the night during the run and Lin Borland (20 digs) collecting five consecutive service points, MA was able to cut the deficit to 9-8. The Wildcats took their first lead at 12-11 and never trailed again in winning the second set by 10.

MA jumped out to a 17-9 advantage to start the third set, but the Bulldogs’ Jade Von Doepp helped key a run that got SR in striking distance at 21-16

“This one was a bit of a bummer because we played super well on Saturday against Justin-Siena,” San Rafael coach Jessica Woodall-Massey said. “We just had one of those dominating games and I was hoping we were going to carry that forward.”

Von Doepp finished with 11 kills, 12 digs, two aces and a block. Also for the Bulldogs, Olivia Dugan had 22 digs, and Faith Puu had five blocks and three kills. Tenley Brovelli added 17 assists and five digs and Anna Merk had three blocks, a kill and an ace.

Kate Lane (14 kills, 11 digs) and Greta Borland (eight kills, 11 digs) were key contributors for the Wildcats.

Despite the loss, San Rafael’s season isn’t over.

By making it to the NCS semifinals, the Bulldogs secured a spot in next week’s NorCal tournament.

“We get to keep playing volleyball and we have nothing to lose at this point,” Woodall-Massey said. “This is the furthest this program has ever gotten. We just have to go for it and not be scared to lose and be more ready to win.”