Wolves on the Prowl: Livingston boys volleyball team seeks first blue section banner.
On the wall of the Livingston High gym, hanging above Naldi Court, are eight blue Sac-Joaquin Section championship banners. Those banners aren’t easy to get, but the Wolves boys volleyball team has an opportunity to add another one to the collection. Top-seeded Livingston will play No. 3 El Dorado in the SJS Division IV Championship on Saturday at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento at noon.
The Wolves are hungry after falling just short last year in the finals. Livingston returns the bulk of that team that went on to win a NorCal Regional Championship and played for a state title. The Wolves don’t want to miss on another opportunity to bring home a blue banner. “It means a lot because it will help us prove we can win big games when the big moments come,” said senior Navjot Sekhon.
The Wolves have been led by seniors Gurvir Singh, Bradley Kaji, Udayveer Dhadda and Sekhon up front with Shabadjot Kaloya and Gurmukh Gill sharing the setting duties. The deep run in the state finals and a tough schedule have prepared the Wolves to make another playoff run this year.
“I think it has prepared us for the pressure of the playoffs,” Sekhon said. “We’ve been prepared, we know how to lock in. We know how to get our business done in practice so we perform on the court.” The Wolves bring an 18-match winning streak into the finals on Saturday. They won their fifth consecutive league championship with a perfect 14-0 run through the Western Athletic Conference, including two victories over Beyer which is playing for the Division III championship.
The Livingston schedule was stocked full of tough tournaments where the Wolves faced bigger schools and still managed to compile an impressive 37-6 record. Add the experience gained from last year’s postseason run and it’s no shock the Wolves are back on the big stage. “After making the playoff run we’ve been through it all,” Kaji said. “We’ve learned what it takes to win these tough matches.”
In El Dorado, Livingston is facing a tough opponent that has won 15 of its last 16 matches. A league champion that went a perfect 9-0 in the Sierra Valley Conference. After defeating Mesa Verde and West Campus in the first two rounds, El Dorado came back from two sets down to defeat No. 2 Bear River 19-25, 15-25, 25-18, 25-15, 15-11, which showed grit and determination.
The Wolves are ready for the challenge. “It’s a special group,” said Livingston coach Mike Alvernaz. “They really respond well and they play for each other. They played their hearts out. We want that section title and that’s something Livingston hasn’t had for volleyball.”
Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.