KELSEYVILLE >> It’s like finding a $20 bill in an old coat pocket, one more french fry in the bottom of the bag, one more M&M in the candy sleeve.
When the Kelseyville Knights lost to St. Joseph Notre Dame of Alameda in the quarterfinal round of the North Coast Section Division IV volleyball playoffs on Nov. 5, they and everyone else thought their season was over.
Not so quick.
Even though nearly half of her team is already practicing for the start of the upcoming basketball season, volleyball coach Donelle McCallister said she got the word late last week from athletic director Scott Conrad that the Knights were being considered for an at-large spot in the 16-team Northern California Division IV field, which includes champions and runner-up teams from four different sections and other at-large teams to fill the field. The NorCal champion will play the Southern California winner for the state title next month.
While Kelseyville, the two-time defending North Central League I champion, did apply for an at-large berth in the NorCals, those spots are usually reserved for semifinal-round losers. Quarterfinalists don’t often make it.
Kelseyville (25-6) beat the odds and drew the No. 15 seed when the playoff field was released Sunday. The Knights play at No. 2 seed Monte Vista Christian (30-5) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Watsonville, the winner advancing to Saturday’s quarterfinals.
“It’s an honor to be selected,” McCallister said on Monday after hurriedly recalling her volleyball players back to the practice floor.
“I didn’t want anyone else to be upset so I checked with Mr. Conrad first and both he and Jimmy (varsity girls basketball coach Jim Hale) said they were OK with it,” McCallister said.
And the reaction of the Kelseyville players, given a new life in the NorCals?
“They are very excited, especially the seniors,” McCallister said. “It’s a chance for them to play at least one more match together.”
McCallister said she is similarly excited because her squad of 13 is one of the better ones she’s ever coached, and not just from a talent standpoint.
“Thirteen awesome players and 13 awesome kids,” McCallister said. “This team has been pretty solid and I look forward to coaching them in another match. It’s a great group.”
Believe it or not, Kelseyville and Monte Vista Christian met nearly a month ago at the Vintage Tournament in Napa, the Knights falling 25-18, 25-16, 25-14.
“They are very, very, very good,” McCallister said of the Mustangs. “They’ve got one outside hitter who can really pound the ball and the rest of them are just very solid.” If the Knights pull off what would be no less than a major upset on Wednesday night, they’ll play the winner of a first-round match between No. 7 Lick-Wilmerding and No. 10 Hilmar in Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
The top four seeds in the NorCal Division IV field are No. 1 Menlo School (20-8), Monte Vista Christian, No. 3 Sacred Heart Prep (23-11) and No. 4 Branson (21-11), the NCS champion. St. Joseph Notre Dame, the NCS runner-up, is the No. 6 seed and Cardinal Newman, an NCS semifinal-round loser, is No. 8.
