Volleyball roundup: Marin Catholic, Tam, Branson book places in finals

The girls volleyball teams from Marin Catholic and The Branson School are no strangers to challenging for and winning section titles. Both programs will have an opportunity to add to their collection of pennants on Saturday while Tam aims for its first section title.

The Bulls (28-4) and Red-tailed Hawks (24-9), both of whom are No. 1 seeds, are set to host North Coast Section championship games at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

Branson takes on No. 2 Redwood for the Division II title at 7 p.m. on Saturday at College of Marin. Tam hosts No. 2 University at the same time in Mill Valley for the D-III title.

Third-seeded MC (22-8) hits the road to challenge top-seeded Foothill for the D-I championship at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Branson is looking to claim its 13th section title out of a possible 14 since 2009. Marin Catholic has won eight consecutive titles since 2014.

MC 3, San Ramon Valley 2

Izzy Adam had a team-high 14 kills and was second with 18 digs as MC outlasted San Ramon Valley, 25-13, 11-25, 18-25, 25-22,15-8.

Grace Basso and Krystal Rose Huff had eight kills apiece for MC. Savannah Ellison paced the Wildcats with 27 digs while Rania Brody had 10 digs in addition to her 32 assists.

MC, which was moved up to D-I this year because it won three consecutive D-II titles, takes on Foothill (35-1) for the title.

The Falcons’ lone loss of the season came against Amador Valley, the team it defeated on Wednesday to advance to the final. Foothill also has victories against D-II finalists Branson and Redwood on its resume.

Branson 3, Campolindo 0

The Bulls allowed Campolindo to get to 25 points — over the course of all three sets combined — and rolled to a 25-9, 25-6, 25-10 victory on Wednesday night.

Branson faces Redwood for the third time this year in Saturday’s final, having won 3-1 in the regular season and 3-0 in the MCAL title game.

Tam 3, Acalanes 0

Natalia Clifford returned from a month-long ankle injury, putting up a nine-dig, seven-kill stat line to help the Red-tailed Hawks advance to the title game following a 25-14, 25-22, 25-22 victory.

Tam had made it to consecutive D-III semifinals the past two years before breaking through with Wednesday’s win. The Red-tailed Hawks face No. 2 University — three-set winners against Archie Williams in the other semifinal — on Saturday.

Tam’s Grace Widdifield had eight kills against Acalanes. Emmeline Sandgren piled up 26 assists. Zoe Lyko (five blocks, five kills, three aces), Malia Parsons (eight digs, three aces), and Natalie Stanford (seven digs, four kills) were also key to the win.

Tam will look to avenge last year’s semifinal loss to the Red Devils. The Red-tailed Hawks defeated University 3-0 on Sept. 11.

BCL West teams fall

Both Marin Academy and San Domenico saw their section playoff runs halted on Wednesday, against Justin-Siena and St. Bernard’s, respectively. The D-IV Wildcats (19-16) and D-VI Panthers (6-22) both lost in three sets but have already qualified for next week’s NorCal playoffs by having advanced to the semifinals.