While the Jesse Bethel High School girls volleyball team opened its season with a loss to San Rafael, the Jaguars refused to end it with one. After falling into an 0-2 set hole, Bethel rallied to pull off a 3-2 win on Wednesday to advance to the North Coast Section Division III finals. The Jaguars’ first-ever championship appearance will come against third-seeded St.
Joseph Notre Dame this Saturday. “After winning the first round and going to the second round, we knew that the semifinals weren’t going to be a walk in the park,” Bethel head coach Valencia Puu said. “Us continuing to make history really speaks for itself.
” Bethel dropped the inaugural set, 25-17, and then followed it up with a tight 25-22 loss in the second set. The Jaguars were plagued by errors and had no answer for San Rafael’s Elsa Kehoe, who was spiking down shots left-and-right. After trailing throughout the match, the Jaguars raced out to a 9-1 lead in the third set due to much improved passing and defense.
Bethel’s setter Precilla Williams was a driving force for the improved playmaking, finishing with a total of 45 assists. The Bulldogs clawed their way back to tie the set at 14, but Bethel regained control with kills from Riah Paopao, who clinched the 25-20 set win. Paopao recorded a team-high 23 kills.
“I had a really tough start the first two sets,” Paopao said. “I think I just came back from the rough start and used it as motivation.” The Jaguars started the fourth set in si.
