Nordhoff Sweeps to Volleyball Title

For four years, members of the Nordhoff High girls’ volleyball team talked about putting another state championship banner on the wall of the Rangers’ gym.

After a 15-2, 15-7, 15-4 thumping of Forestville El Molino in Saturday’s state Division IV title match at Cal State Fullerton, the Rangers will be able to turn their words into action and fly a flag next to the one that was raised in 1986.

“When we started playing at Nordhoff, we said we were going to put a banner on the wall,” senior setter Sami Sawyer said.

“No one could picture losing Tuesday night (in a five-game win over Oakhurst Yosemite) and no one could picture losing today.”

From Alison Nofrey’s match-opening stuff to a thundering combination block by Sawyer and Allison Kerr 70 minutes later, Nordhoff (24-3) was in control almost the entire way.

There was little doubt as to the outcome after Nordhoff roared to a 13-0 advantage in the first game. El Molino (26-4) managed brief leads of 4-3 in the second game and 3-2 in the third, but the Rangers stymied the Lions’ momentum in both games behind the serving of Sawyer and the hitting of Sawyer, Nofrey and Kerr.

Sawyer, who had six aces in the match, ran off seven service points in the second game, giving Nordhoff a 10-4 lead, and a multifaceted attack kept the Rangers out of trouble in the final game.

“I asked the girls to play and not look at the score,” Nordhoff Coach Cheryl Glass said. “I think the 13-0 score (in the first game) showed that they went out and played focused.”

Even a tough defense could not keep El Molino in the match.

“We’ve beaten a lot of big-hitting teams,” said Ed Grasel, the Lions’ coach. “We can stay out there and dig all day long. We made it to a lot of balls today, but they had a little extra on them.”

Nofrey led the attack with 10 kills and three blocks, and Kerr added eight kills and five blocks. Sawyer contributed 12 assists and eight digs, plus nine kills in 14 attempts for an impressive .643 attack percentage.

Adding balance to the Ranger onslaught were Julie Sandefur with 15 assists and Jami Sawyer with five kills and 15 digs. The Rangers also were sharp when passing, with Sarah Wright, Joanna Sandefur and Tacy Franklin initiating the attack.

The two Sawyers, Nofrey and Julie Sandefur were named to the all-tournament team.

Later, thoughts returned to the banner.

“It’s our dream come true,” said Wright, one of five seniors. “As freshmen, we looked up at the wall and said our names would be up there, but we didn’t really know how we were going to do it.”