Wildcats win NorCal title, lose at state
By Dick Sparrer
Time has a way of putting things into perspective.
Right now, the girls on the Los Gatos volleyball team are disappointed with their loss to Harvard-Westlake in the finals of the state Division III playoffs.
But over time, the Wildcats will appreciate the 2000 season for what it was: remarkable!
The Cats weren't necessarily predicted to achieve greatness this fall. But greatness is exactly what they achieved.
The Gatos girls didn't win the championship in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League... that distinction when to eventual state champion St. Francis (35-1 for the year).
But after a solid league season, the Wildcats really went to work in the postseason. Los Gatos beat longtime nemesis Presentation to win the Central Coast Section Division III championship, their first CCS crown since 1993, then won three straight matches to claim the Northern California Division III crown--beating Presentation a second time.
Photograph by Ted Kucklick
Seniors Katie Allan (right) and Ruth Kucklick show off the the CIF Northern California championship award won by the Gatos girls volleyball team last week.
By winning the NorCal title, the Cats won the right to advance to the state finals at Cypress College in Southern California.
But the Cats ran into a powerhouse in the finals. Harvard-Westlake (22-2) rolled to a 15-7, 15-8, 15-7 win over Gatos to claim the state championship. Lauren Rinehart slammed down 10 kills for the Wildcats and Kelly Rinehart added seven.
The Rinehart twins were two of six Gatos seniors playing their final high school match at state. Setters Katie Allan and Erin Dudley and outside hitters Chanel Ohlund and Ruth Kucklick were also in action for the last time for the Cats.
And they have every reason to be proud of the achievements of their 2000 team. Because it's been a magnificent run for the Wildcats.
Gatos beat Sacred Heart Cathedral 15-10, 15-8, 15-6 and edged Harbor in five games 15-5, 10-15, 12-15, 15-12, 15-5 to advance to the CCS championship match. Once there, the Cats turned back Presentation 15-13, 15-11, 6-15, 15-13 to win the section title.
Photograph by Ted Kucklick
The Los Gatos girls volleyball team won the Northern California championship, but lost in the state Division III finals to Harvard-Westlake. Seniors Lauren Rinehart, Kelly Rinehart, Katie Allan, Erin Dudley, Chanel Ohlund and Ruth Kucklick were the leaders all season for the Gatos squad, coached by Joe Ripp (back right) and Erika MacLennan (back left).
Los Gatos opened the Northern California tournament with a 15-2, 15-7, 15-10 win over Roseville of the San Joaquin Section, then met up with Presentation again in the semifinals. The Cats turned back the Panthers 15-11, 14-16, 15-9, 15-9 to move on to the NorCal title match against No. 2 seeded Sonoma Valley of the North Coast Section.
Gatos, the No. 1 seed at NorCal, rolled to a 15-10, 16-14, 15-3 win over Sonoma Valley behind 18 kills by L. Rinehart and solid performances by seniors K. Rinehart, Allan, Ohlund and Kucklick.
That set the stage for the state championship match against Harvard-Westlake, but Gatos lost three straight games to drop the match. The Cats ended the season with a 24-10 record.
The Wildcats, under the direction of head coach Joe Ripp and his assistant Erika MacLennan, were led by seniors L. Rinehart, K. Rinehart, Allan, Ohlund, Kucklick and Dudley all season long. Juniors Emilia White and Tara Hodge, sophomores Cassie McClintock and Sandy Sargent and freshmen MacKenzie Burdick, Kellin Dunne and Caroline Walters were other solid players for the 2000 Cats who will all return next season.
Right now, the Wildcats are still hurting from the sting of a season-ended loss to Harvard-Westlake in the state finals. But over time, the sting will subside and the Gatos girls will appreciate just what kind of season they had in 2000.
It was remarkable.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
Los Gatos senior volleyball star Katie Allan (1) flies high for a set as senior Chanel Ohlund moves in.
