Prep Volleyball: Section run begins with Trail

There are many advantages of playing at home in the playoffs.

It's a reward for a season of work.

"Obviously when playing at home you're playing in familiar surroundings, the majority of the crowd is hopefully pulling for you," Golden Valley coach Matt Thissen said. "You don't have to have your team meal too late in the day. You don't have to be on a bus for a couple hours."

The Cougars (14-3) were awarded a home playoff game tonight against No. 10 Monterey Trail (23-5) by winning a share of the Central California Conference championship and earning the No. 7 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 playoffs . The top-eight seeds host.

The match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Golden Valley is just one of three area teams to earn a home game in the first round. Los Banos earned the No. 8 seed in Division 3 and will host No. 9 Oakmont and third-seeded Mariposa will host Venture Academy in Division 4 action.

"It still comes down to what team passes and serves better," Thissen said. "That's the team who usually wins."

Atwater, Buhach Colony, Livingston, Hilmar, Le Grand and Stone Ridge Christian will be on the road tonight.

Hilmar is the No. 6 seed in Division 4, but the section seeding committee awarded No. 11 Bret Harte a home game after winning the Mother Lode League.

In the Division 2 playoffs, ninth-seeded Atwater will travel to No. 8 Lodi and No. 15 Buhach Colony will take the long trip to Rocklin.

Atwater comes into the playoffs playing well after taking Pitman to five games and sweeping BC in its last two matches.

Making the playoffs is becoming an annual act at Golden Valley.

The Cougars have advanced to the postseason in 16 of the 18 years since the school opened.

Golden Valley is led by Reina Sykes, who plays all over the court as a middleblocker and setter.

Middleblocker Belen Castillo, a 6-foot-1 freshman, has also played big at the net for the Cougars.

Monterey Trail has won its last 17 matches.

"(Monterey Trail) is supposed to have a really good setter," Thissen said. "Their outside hitters and passing are a strength. They have some pretty good size with three girls 6-feet or better.

"We counter with one. We also have a 5-7 girl, who plays like she's 6-1."

Shawn Jansen is a Sun-Star sports reporter. He can be reached at 385-2462 or via e-mail at sjansen@mercedsun-star.com.