Folsom defeats Trojans in reverse sweep

Folsom High School has been around since 1922 and Title IX became a federal law in 1972 that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational program or activity, including athletics. If Folsom didn't have a girls' volleyball team before then, it was probably around that time that they got one. One would think in the last 54 years Folsom High had a girls' volleyball team that won a league championship but no one knows for sure. What Folsom High head coach Devin Elmore knows is that the team hasn't won a league championship since at least 2004, so this year's team is the first Folsom High team to win a piece of a league championship in 24 years. Wednesday night's reverse-sweep of Oak Ridge, 26-28, 16-25, 25-22, 25-15, 15-10, gave the Bulldogs a share of a league championship with Rocklin, as both teams ended the season with a 13-1 record, each beating each other on their home court in three games. The league title means a lot to Elmore. "It means everything," said Elmore, who choked up talking about it. "To come into this program four years ago as a 23-year-old kid and not even know what you're doing, basically, and you have a hope and a dream, you see where the trajectory of the program can go. In my first year we placed in fourth; my second year we were third and last year we were second and to finally get over that hump and get a little better each year feels good." For nearly the first half of the match, it didn't look like the Bulldogs would get that league championship, as the Trojans came out and won the first two games to put the Bulldogs in a big hole. The Trojans fell behind big early, as they trailed 15-5, but came roaring and by to tie the game at 18, courtesy of a 13-3 run. Folsom had two game points at 24-23 and 25-24 but failed to win either of them, while the Trojans also had two at 26-25 and 27-26, winning the second one when Folsom couldn't handle the serve of Madelyn Snyder. Snyder had a great night for the Trojans. The senior outside hitter led the team with 17 kills and almost led the team to victory. "I'm so happy that she's getting the opportunity to shine," Oak Ridge coach James Todd said. "She deserves everything that's coming her way. She's a hard worker, and I'm very proud of how far she's come this year." Oak Ridge continued its dominance in the second game, as they won it easily, and it looked like a sweep was in order. Folsom, however, came back to win the third game, thanks to solid hitting from Addison Smith, who led the team with 30 kills on the night. After winning the third game, 25-22, Folsom had an easier time in the fourth game, winning 25-15 to set up the decisive fifth game. Folsom led from start the finish and took it, 15-10. Jazmin Ojo, who had a relatively quiet night the first three sets, came alive with five big kills in the fifth set to lead the Bulldogs. The Trojans had a tough second-round of league play with losses to St. Francis and Del Oro after beating them in the first round of league play, but the team played great against the Bulldogs. "It's just a matter of playing together," Todd said. "In the first half of league, we played really well together, but as you know, as the season goes on you get to the doldrums, the kids are tired and they start focusing on everything but the team. That's been our big emphasis, getting back to 'we before me,' and we played well tonight. Unfortunately, once No. 6 (Ojo) got up to the front row in that fifth set, she was pretty much unstoppable. "We can definitely build of this. If we fix the things we know we can get better at and play with a team-first mentality; not that we're selfish, but if we can get back to having that mentality, I think we can go far in the playoffs." For the Bulldogs, and for Elmore, his team has got to finish. "We should be the No. 1 seed and the goal is nothing less than the section championship game," Elmore said. "I told the girls we didn't come this far just to get this far. We've got to finish. I want it all. I'm selfish. I'm greedy. I don't want second place. We've taken third two straight years. We've lost in five in the semifinals. We know we're right there with those top teams and now it's just taking that last jump."