Dream season for soaring Lady Dragons

Albrecht, Swanson achieved unprecedented volleyball title run|

Though the Sonoma Valley High School varsity volleyball girls’ multi-championship dream season ended two weeks ago, there’s still a buzz reverberating around the Valley from the impact of what they achieved on their memorable historic 2014 run that reached the CIF NorCal state tournament semifinal.

On their triumphant three-month ride, the Lady Dragons posted an impressive 29-4 record, which included capturing both the Sonoma County League season and tournament titles, then beating four straight teams, including highly favored Bishop O’Dowd and Campolindo, to claim the North Coast Section Division-3 crown.

Comprising the 2014 NCS champion Sonoma volleyball girls – directed by head coach Chelsea Scott and assistant coaches Mindy Wiley and Haley Ross – were seniors Mackenzie Albrecht, Hannah Herrick, Cheyenne McCambridge, Ciara Smith and Delaney Swanson; juniors Courtney Cogbill, Carlie Vollert and Sami Von Gober; sophomores Sydney Eckhert, Jenna Mak and Kiara Miles; and freshman Layla Schoeningh.

In going undefeated in 12 matches, the Lady Dragons seized their fourth-straight SCL titles with Albrecht and Swanson, who were the league’s co-most valuable players, being the two key cornerstones for all four championship teams, which is an unprecedented feat in the history of Sonoma’s volleyball program.

Joining Swanson and Albrecht – an All-American who recently accepted a full-ride scholarship to play volleyball for the University of California, Berkeley – in receiving honors were SCL all-league first-team selections Herrick, Mak and Smith, with Miles and Von Gober being named to the all-league second team.

In the wake of snaring the SCL regular-season championship, the Lady Dragons put together an impressive seven-match postseason unbeaten streak that began with a two game sweep of the SCL Tourney and the four victories in capturing the NCS Division-3 title.

It was Sonoma’s third NCS volleyball banner and only the sixth overall sectional crown in school history.

Then, in the CIF NorCal state championship playoffs, the fourth-seed Lady Dragons defeated fifth-seed Christian Brothers in the Division-3 quarterfinals, before finally having their dream season come to an end with a semifinal loss to powerful Valley Christian, the Central Coast Section Division-3 champion.

Sonoma’s complete 33-match season results in order include: Maria Carrillo, 3-1 win; Vintage, 3-1 loss; Paganini Invitational – Marin Academy, 2-0 win; Tokay, 2-0 win; Montgomery, 2-0 win; Novato, 2-0 win; Maria Carrillo, 2-1 loss; SCL, Petaluma, 3-0 win; SCL, El Molino, 3-0 win; SCL, Analy, 3-0 win; SCL, Healdsburg, 3-0 win; SCL, Piner, 3-0 win; SCL, Elsie Allen, 3-0 win; SCL, Petaluma, 3-2 win; Carmichael Invitational – Will C. Wood, 2-0 win; Yuba City, 2-0 win; Truckee, 2-0 win; Del Oro, 2-0 win; Marin Catholic, 2-0 win; El Camino, 2-1 loss; SCL, El Molino, 3-0 win; SCL, Analy, 3-0 win; SCL, Healdsburg, 3-0 win, title clinch; SCL, Piner, 3-0 win; SCL, Elsie Allen, 3-0 win; SCL tourney, Analy, 3-0 win; SCL tourney, Healdsburg, 3-0 title win; NCS, Encinal, 3-0 win; NCS, Miramonte, 3-1 win; NCS, Bishop O’Dowd, 3-1 win; NCS, Campolindo, 3-1 title win; NorCal, Christian Brothers, 3-1 win; NorCal, Valley Christian, 3-0 loss.

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