With Richmond Cal Prep’s (5-3) win over Silver Oak (5-7) on Wednesday night to earn the 3rd playoff spot in the BACSAC Division B playoffs, the AIPHS Girls Volleyball team entered Thursday night's matchup against the #1 ranked Bay Tech (10-1) in a must-win scenario to earn the fourth and final playoff spot.
After an early back and forth in the first set, the Lady Eagles never looked back and swept Bay Tech in three sets (25-19), (25-13), and (25-18). The final play of the game came on a Bay Tech serving fault that awarded the Lady Eagles with the decisive victory and prompted roaring celebrations from AIPHS players and fans on Bay Tech’s home court. With impressive play from the AIPHS starters (#3 Ariam Mahray, #8 Julia Nyamdorj, #9 Saron Abrham, #11 Beatriz Verlarde-Barraza, #14 Fatima Moreno, #20 Isabella Espindola, and #5 Shirley Chen [libero]), the Lady Eagles punctuated their most dominant performance of the season in less than an hour of match play. “The girls worked their tails off,” exclaimed AIPHS Head Coach Kristina “Tina” Case. “They came in with confidence and the will to beat the top-ranked team in the league. I am proud of how much they have improved throughout the season!”
With tonight’s win, the Lady Eagles improve to 5-5 and currently hold the fourth and final playoff spot. But with a season finale showdown looming against #3 ranked Richmond Cal Prep, the Lady Eagles will need a repeat of tonight’s impressive performance to secure the #4 spot in the playoffs.
Regardless of the result of Friday’s #3 RCP versus #2 Oakland Unity matchup, RCP will be assured the #3 playoff ranking as they head into Monday’s matchup against AIPHS. But if Oakland Unity defeats RCP and AIPHS wins against RCP on Monday, the Lady Eagles would likely earn the #3 playoff spot, while RCP will enter the playoffs as the #4 seed.
However, if AIPHS loses against RCP on Monday, AIPHS’s playoff chances would be in jeopardy, as the 4th playoff spot would be a toss-up between a potential (5-6) AIPHS and a (5-7) Silver Oak High School. Under this scenario, BACSAC tie-break rules would be enforced.
The potential of winning a championship in AIPHS’s inaugural sports season has filled Coach Tina with great excitement: “This team has a chance to do something special, because of their work ethic and trust that they have for each other. It's so fun to watch!”
Come cheer the AIPHS Lady Eagles in their must-win season finale against Richmond Cal College Prep, this Monday, October 23, at 5PM, at the RCP Gym, located at 3040 Hilltop Mall, Richmond, CA 94806.
For more information about AIMS sports programs, please visit aimsathletics.com. AIPHS is a member of the Bay Area Charter School Athletic Conference (BACSAC).
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