GALT, CA (MPG) - For the first time in history, the Liberty Ranch girls volleyball team has qualified for the Sac-Joaquin section finals.

The team had a perfect run of 14 wins and zero losses to win league for the second time in a row.

They have won all three of their playoff games 3-0, but that doesn’t mean it was easy.

In the first round they took care of Orestimba 25-14, 25-16, 25-15. In the quarterfinals Hughson proved to be tougher and the Hawks came from behind in the first set to win 25-21, then 25-15 and the last set was nose to nose and went into overtime, but the Hawks finished with the win, 26-24.

No Liberty Ranch volleyball team had ever made it past the quarterfinals.

The No. 2-ranked Hawks faced No. 3-ranked Hilmar on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in the semifinals. 

Every player seemed to be on their “A-game,” and the team never let Hilmar get the lead and won all three sets 25-19, 25-18 and 25-17.

Head coach Mark Snow has been coaching Liberty volleyball for 14 years and varsity for nine. He has a 165-104 win-loss record and has coached two of the winningest seasons in Hawk history, last year with their first league win 24-8 and this year 34-4 overall with their second league win.

“This is the first time any volleyball team has made it this far,” said Snow. “I am just really excited for the girls because they have been working really hard to get where they are. We have played really well together as a unit. If we play good defense, we are very hard to beat because of the big three offensive weapons we have in Paityn Snow, Rachel Smith and Haley Smith.”

Senior Paityn Snow, who was voted league MVP last year and the year before, had 13 kills, four blocks, four digs and received the ball 11 times in the Hilmar game.

Senior Rachel Smith had nine kills, six blocks, five digs, and received the ball nine times. 

Junior Haley Smith had 10 kills, two blocks, six digs, and received the ball nine times. 

Senior libero Taryn Cooley had four digs and received the ball 15 times.

The Hawks face Ripon Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. at Cosumnes River College.