Dragons beat Petaluma, take VVAL title in volleyball

Sonoma’s volleyball fans showed up full of high hopes and even higher spirits Thursday night at Pfeiffer Gym, and they weren’t disappointed. The Dragons varsity team took three straight sets from Petaluma – two of them down to the wire – ending the night as VVAL champions.

The game came just one day after an equally dramatic victory over Vintage, with whom the Dragons share a 10-2 league record. But it’s Sonoma Valley that ends up in first place, thanks to tie-breaker criteria established even before the season began.

Sonoma’s 3-1 victory Wednesday over Vintage, and their subsequent 3-0 win over Petaluma’s “Lady Trojans” on Thursday, makes the pennant theirs by right as well as the luck of the draw.

Katie Brenninger led the attack at Vintage with 16 kills, followed by Gianna Bruton with 10 and Lola Martin with eight. Bruton led the team with seven serving aces, with libero Marissa White coming up with five.

White also figured in the defense with 15 digs, behind only Sophia Riebli's 17. Brenninger and Nelli Jimenez had 11 digs each.

On Thursday, after the JV Dragons beat Petaluma’s JVs, 2-1, a ceremony recognizing the seniors on the Sonoma varsity (Gianna Bruton, Angelina Carabini and Alondra Martinez) preceded the National Anthem, as lustily sung by the Dragon varsity themselves.

Then the match began.

The Dragons were not to be denied their moment of glory before the loud and appreciative home court crowd, fighting for every point and taking the first set 27-25. The second came easier, 25-18, but the third set again went the distance-plus, and also ended 27-25.

Once again Brenninger topped the stats with 13 kills, with freshman Martin next with eight and Ruby Capriola with six. White came through with 15 digs, followed by Carabini’s 12 and Riebli’s 10. Junior Riebli found herself in the right place at the right time for 27 assists.

“It was a special night,” said first-year coach Brian Perkins. “It puts a bow on it,” he added, referring to the dramatic season finish that saw the Dragons win their last 10 matches.

It marks Sonoma Valley’s first league title since 2014, and first VVAL title.

And the pennant goes up on the wall at Pfeiffer Gym to prove it.