Undefeated Lathrop closing in on Section boys volleyball title

David Victor, The Record
·2 min read
Lathrop High's boys volleyball team poses for a photo after it's Section playoff win against East Union on Tuesday in Lathrop.
Lathrop High's boys volleyball team poses for a photo after it's Section playoff win against East Union on Tuesday in Lathrop.

LATHROP — The Lathrop High Spartans are only one match away from capturing the Division 3 Section title and slated to take on El Camino at 1 p.m. Saturday at Natomas High School in Sacramento.

Lathrop (29-0) made it to the championship match without losing a set in the playoffs, beating Venture Academy, Sierra and East Union in three sets each.

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El Camino High earned its spot in the Section final after knocking off Casa Roble, Rosemont and Christian Brothers.

While the Spartans are the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, the No. 2 seeded El Camino is above Lathrop in the overall Section rankings and appears to come into Saturday's match as the favorite.

The seventh-ranked Eagles are 18-4 overall and earned a higher ranking than the 10th-ranked Spartans because they competed against the likes of Vista del Lago, Nevada Union and Whitney, all three of whom are ranked top six in the region. Lathrop has mostly faced teams outside of the top 15 in the rankings.

"All I know is that they're seeded second in our Section (playoffs). We respect them, but tomorrow we will go to battle," Lathrop Head Coach Toa Fa'ali' said.

Both teams will compete for their first boys volleyball Section championship.

The Eagles are seeking championship redemption after losing two straight Section title matches in 2018 against Del Oro, and 2019 to Nevada Union.

Lathrop has emerged as a top competitor in the region in the last four years, rising to the top 10 in the Section this year from being ranked 45th in 2018.

"We will approach tomorrow's game with the same mindset as if it was any other. We will go in confidence, believe in ourselves and we will play together as a team," Fa'ali'i said.

"It's the same message. We will try to finish in three, but if it gets to go five we are ready to battle it out. I believe in my team and may the best team win."

Record reporter David Victor covers sports. He can be reached at dvictor@recordnet.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Undefeated Lathrop volleyball takes aim at Section title