“It was our kids and our community proving that Sanger deserves to be on the volleyball map!”
———————
Sanger’s boys volleyball team has delivered a season that will never be forgotten. In front of a packed crowd at Fresno City College on Friday night, the Apaches took down Francis Parker (San Diego) to clinch the first ever state title in any sport for Sanger. Despite losing a heartbreaker in the Central Section playoffs a few weeks earlier, the boys stayed focused going into the regional championships and won three consecutive matches before advancing to the state final and grabbing the CIF Division II state championship.
Here is what head coach Scott Okada said about the team’s historic run.
1. What was your expectation for this team going into the season and did you ever imagine you would be a state champion?
We knew we were going to be very young this year. We lost some key seniors that had a great deal of experience from last year. Our setting was going to take time with a freshman and sophomore and our offensive development would take time with a sophomore outside and a sophomore middle. Our goal was to keep focusing on building good habits and becoming more disciplined in our play. We believed we could make great improvements because we were young and these guys were willing to listen and adapt.
Our first goal was a league championship which we knew would be difficult because Bullard was so strong. After we snuck out a five-set win at home I think our guys really started to believe. We knew that if we ended up in D2 North we had a chance to make a real run. State was probably still not on our radar until we won the north regional. We really tried today in the moment, match by match, and point by point.
2. What was it like to see your supporters coming out in large numbers throughout the season and especially in the state championship game?
It was amazing to see so many friends, families, and community members come out to support us. I think in a lot of ways that meant more than anything. We embraced the opportunity to represent our community. What we do is special and unique but it means more because it means so much to the community.
3. What was the key to making sure you guys stay focused and positive as you went to the state championships after a tough loss in the section playoffs?
We just really tried to keep our minds focused on each match along the way. Each opponent was a little different and so we locked in on film and preparation and just continue to talk about enjoying the journey together.
4. How does it feel to bring the first ever state championship in school history?
I always believed our program could and would do something historic. It was amazing to see our soccer team win a D1 section championship this year. We were so proud of them. It feels amazing to add to the legacy of the school by contributing this historic title. We have won AAU and USAV Nationals at different divisions but this is special because it was our kids and our community proving that Sanger deserves to be on the volleyball map!