For Pitman High’s first-round game in the CIF Northern California Division 2 playoffs, coach Kristen Pontes-Christian wore a simple black crew-neck shirt with the word PRIDE printed on the front in white block letters.
But it wasn’t just any simple black crew-neck shirt with the PRIDE printed on the front in white block letters.
It was the very shirt Pontes-Christian wore back in 2014 when she guided Pitman to a 44-2 record and a berth in the CIF Division 1 state finals.
“I saw this in the closet and I thought, ‘I’m going to wear this tonight,’” she said following the sixth-seeded Pride’s 25-23, 25-13, 25-14 win over No. 11 Rio Americano (Sacramento) on Tuesday.
Pitman’s victory sets up a second-round date with No. 3 Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep on Thursday at 6 p.m. in San Francisco. It’s the farthest the Pride (34-6) has advanced in the NorCal tourney since the 2014 team won the NorCal title.
Pitman lost to Folsom in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 playoffs on Oct. 26, and was playing for the first time since gaining an at-large big to the NorCal tourney.
“I told them last week that we’re going to be fresh,” said Pontes-Christian. “We haven’t played in more than 10 days.”
Pitman looked fresh, but started slowly, trying to adjust to the Raiders’ block defense. It didn’t take long for hitters Maryn Hall (10 kills) and Ella Sniezek (16 kills) to figure it out. The duo delivered big hit after big hit.
“I think this is most relaxed we’ve played,” said Sniezek. “We’re ready to keep this going. Second chances don’t come around often. We’re excited that one did.”
Seniors Madison Eissayou and Avery Ahlem also got into the act with eight and five kills, respectively, while junior Mia Ngo had four kills and two blocks. Senior libero Mindy (17 digs) and senior setter Payton Rowell (43 assists) also turned in big performances for the Pride.
“It was really fun tonight,” said Sniezek. “And it’s an opportunity that we need to take advantage of.”
Top-seeded Windsor was stunned by No. 16 University (San Francisco) 3-1 and will play No. 8 Aragon (San Mateo) in the second round. Meanwhile, second-seeded Pleasant Valley (Chico) was upset by No. 15 Tamalpais (Mill Valley) 3-0. That makes Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep the highest seed remaining.
A win for Pitman in San Francisco on Thursday would set up a semifinal matchup with either No. 7 Notre Dame (Belmont) or No. 15 Tamalpais (Mill Valley) on Saturday.