GALT, CA (MPG) - The Liberty Ranch Hawks volleyball team came up short in their first ever trip to a CIF Sac-Joaquin section championship game, losing to top-seeded Ripon 25-13, 25-13, 25-21.

The girls, who won league and continued to make it through the playoffs, did not play their best sets on Friday, Nov. 8. But Liberty Ranch’s season is not over; the Hawks were given the top seed in the CIF State NorCal regional playoffs. Liberty Ranch has a first-round bye and on Thursday, Nov. 14, will play No. 8 seed Soquel in Division IV, after press time. 

Ripon was named the No. 12 seed in Division III.

Hawk Head Coach Mark Snow says it was a hard loss. 

“Unfortunately, we did not get the result we wanted in the D4 section championships with a loss to Ripon High School,” said Snow. “We did not play very well in that match and Ripon was ready to go. They played really well and kept us out of the system throughout the match.  The loss really hurt, but ultimately was not a bad thing for our team to go through. We received the No. 1 seed in NorCals D4 with Ripon moving up to D3. We get to host all our matches in the state tournament.  

“We play at 6 p.m. Thursday. These young ladies are hungry and ready to get back on the floor to prove they deserve the No. 1 seed.”

Paityn Snow had 10 kills, Rachel Smith-8 and Haley Smith-6.