By Ray Hamill — Before the volleyball playoffs began, Eureka head coach Stephanie Napoleon talked of her team’s desire to make some history in this year’s North Coast Section postseason.
Napoleon believes this year’s team is capable of doing that and securing just a fourth-ever NCS title for the H-DNL and a first-ever for the program.
This group of players have certainly impressed thus far.
The Loggers won 26 regular-season games — the most by the program in at least 22 years since MaxPreps began keeping records — on the way to a second straight league championship.
On Tuesday night, they carried that momentum into the NCS Division-3 playoffs, opening with an impressive straight sets win over Petaluma in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at Jay Willard Gymnasium.
The No. 7 seeded Eureka players were focused, energized and ready to go.
“Really happy with the win tonight,” Napoleon said. “Petaluma was a tough team. I thought our team was focused and determined .
“The large crowd helped us and we truly appreciate all the support.”
The long trip north didn’t appear to affect the No. 10 Trojans, who started the better of the two teams and led for much of the opening half of the first set.
But the Loggers were just getting warmed up, and with senior team leader Tiarah Maualuga setting the tone they would quickly settle in.
And after breaking a 13-13 tie in the opening set they never really looked in danger of losing for the remainder of the night.
The Loggers closed out the opening set with a 12-8 run and would carry that momentum into the second set, going on a 10-4 run midway through to open up a seven-point lead.
And that would prove to be decisive, giving the home team a comfortable two-sets advantage.
They would continue to control the game the rest of the way, opening up an early 8-4 lead in set three and never allowing the visitors to build any real momentum.
They grew a little stronger with each set and finished the night with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-18 victory.
The always dangerous Maualuga was once again instrumental in the victory, finishing with 14 kills, 10 digs, two blocks and two aces, while teammate Alena Battle added seven kills, two digs and two blocks, and Ramona Dusel chipped in 13 assists, five aces, three kills and two digs.
Violla Kingsang also impressed and finished the night with 14 assists, four digs, two aces and a kill, while Ezzy Antonio had two kills and a dig, Jade Willoughby had two blocks and a kill, Zuma Kan had six digs and an ace, Eddy Hale had five digs and two aces, Savanhie Phanhsavang had four digs and ace and Makenzie Wolff finished with a kill and a dig.
With the win, the Loggers improved to 27-6 on the season, while Petaluma closed out 13-11.
The last H-DNL team to win an NCS championship was St. Bernard’s in 2023, which ended a long wait for the league.
The only previous local Section champs were McKinleyville in 1986 and Ferndale in 1976.
The Loggers were one of three local teams to open the NCS playoffs on Tuesday night.
St. Bernard’s and Del Norte also won their Division-5 games to make it a good night for the H-DNL teams.
Arcata also qualified for the playoffs and will open at Encinal on Wednesday night, while the Ferndale girls will open their playoff campaign on Saturday.
Next up for Eureka is a trip to play No. 2 Justin-Siena on Saturday afternoon.
Game time its et for 1 p.m.
