NCS Champs! Northgate tops Amador Valley to complete dominant run through section playoffs ...Middle East

WALNUT CREEK — No team has been more dominant in the North Coast Section this season than Northgate. 

The Walnut Creek school has already amassed 40 wins this season and hasn’t lost a match to a section opponent all season. 

In the NCS Division I championship on Thursday, Northgate’s dominance was on full display. 

Northgate defeated Amador Valley 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 22-25, 25-15) to capture its second consecutive NCS crown and fourth overall. Northgate won last year’s Division II title, but has notched its first NCS title in the section’s highest division. 

“It’s such a special team,” Northgate coach Joe Peacock said. “I’m so happy that they didn’t choke and they didn’t let the pressure get to them. The moment didn’t become too large and they were able to do what everybody expected.” 

After securing the win in the fourth set, Northgate celebrated with a packed student section. For senior captain Austin Chan, Thursday’s win was bittersweet. 

“It was super exciting, but it was also super sad that this was the last NCS playoffs for the seniors,” Chan said. “I’m really speechless. But it’s been great to play with my boys that I started with and finish off NCS going back to back.” 

Northgate was determined to get off to a fast start. 

The Broncos opened the first set scoring the first five points. They led as much as nine and cruised to an eight-point set victory. 

Amador Valley played the second set much closer, but Northgate’s frontline of Connor Harze and Conor Walsh sent away any spikes toward the net. Northgate was in complete control, taking the first two sets with a raucous home crowd anxious for the Broncos to complete the sweep. 

But the Dons didn’t go down without a fight. 

Amador Valley got off to a hot start in the third set behind an aggressive attack led by senior outside hitter Max Riter. The Pleasanton school led by as much as six points and stole the third set to avoid the sweep. Northgate’s third set loss was the first time the Broncos dropped a set this postseason. 

While Amador Valley’s fight was valiant, Northgate proved to be too athletic for the scrappy Dons.

Northgate easily took the final set, leading by as much as 11. Senior middle hitter Trey Broussard delivered the game-winning kill as Northgate cruised to victory. 

“After the third set, we knew we couldn’t let up on the gas,” Harze said. “We let up on the gas in the third set and we dropped it. We promised to not let that happen again. And we did that.”

Northgate’s length and athleticism at the net made the usually high-powered Amador Valley offense stagnant. 

“They were a very good blocking team,” Amador Valley coach Ross Yu said. “We are used to our two biggest hitters getting a high number of kills and they got a hand on a number of our shots and were able to continue play.”

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Both teams will qualify for the state playoffs that start next week and will know which division they will play at the conclusion of Sunday’s seeding meeting. 

After being eliminated in the first round of last year’s state playoff tournament, Northgate has its eyes set on redemption.

“I think last year what we forgot was that this isn’t the end. There’s more to go,” Chan said. “We got to remember that this is just another milestone. We need to just absolutely push and get through our matches the way we need to.”

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