Branson’s Abby King hits the ball over the net during the Bulls’ game against Redwood in Larkspur, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)

Branson’s Elena Fisher (6) hits the ball past the block of Branson’s Mara Mogyorodi (6) of Foothill during the North Coast Section Open Division girls volleyball semifinal in Ross, Calif., Nov. 6 2024. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)

Natalia Clifford (12) makes a play at the net as Terra Linda’s Ryann Jefferys (5) defends in the MCAL first-round women’s volleyball playoff match at Tam in Mill Valley, Calif., Tuesday, October 22, 2024 . No. 4 Tam defeated No. 5 Terra Linda 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

Terra Linda’s Ryann Jefferys (5) and her teammate Josie Campo (10) defend at the net as Tam’s Natalie Stanford (10) spikes the ball to score a point during their first-round women’s volleyball playoff match of MCAL at Tam in Mill Valley, California. on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. No. 4 Tam defeated No. 5 Terra Linda 2-1. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

NOVATO CA – OCTOBER 26: Redwood No. 1 women’s singles player Jordan Marotto hits a forehand against Branson’s Katie Warrin during the MCAL girls tennis final at Novato High School in Novato, California, on Thursday, October 26. October 2023. Marotto defeated Warrin 6-1, 6-0. Redwood swept Branson 7-0 to claim the MCAL title. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

Redwood’s No. 3 singles player Ella Povio plays Branson’s Audrey Gilmor in the MCAL final on Thursday, October 27, 2022 in Novato, California. (Frankie Frost/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)

Branson’s No. 2 singles player Mirabel Arlander chases a ball from Redwood’s Sonya Cowan in the MCAL final on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Novato, California. (Frankie Frost/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)

San Domenico’s Carly Amborn (13) is guarded by Maria Carrillo’s Leyna Gorauskas (13) during a women’s basketball game at Dominican University in San Rafael, California, on Dec. 20, 2023. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)

Tam’s Timo Ural (3) carries the ball on the kickoff return during their non-league soccer game against Las Lomas at Tam in Mill Valley, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

Redwood High running back Sean Cunneen breaks free for a 99-yard touchdown run in a game against Justin-Siena in Larkspur, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Giants won the game 21-7. (Photo by Jordan Warren)

Marin Catholic kicker Charlie Carroll (28) has his field goal attempt blocked by San Marin’s Ryan Houlihan (17) during their Redwood Empire Adobe game at San Marin in Novato, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Marin Catholic defeated San Marin 21-7. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

Marin Catholic’s Emma Slaught (5) looks to shoot over a Northgate defender during their North Coast Section Division II title water polo game at Marin Academy in San Rafael, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 .Northgate won the game 8-7. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

Archie Williams’ Holly Hovey blocks a pass from Redwood during their MCAL girls water polo semifinal game at Archie Williams High in San Anselmo, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Redwood defeated Archie Williams 8-5. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

Archie Williams’ Taylor Fahy, left, looks to pass while being defended by Redwood’s Kate Morgan during their MCAL girls’ water polo semifinal game at Archie Williams High in San Anselmo, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Redwood defeated Archie Williams 8-5. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

Show title

1 of 14

Branson’s Abby King hits the ball over the net during the Bulls’ game against Redwood in Larkspur, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)

Expand

A host of league and North Coast Section titles were on the line last week, highlighted by The Branson School and Tam girls volleyball teams winning the first two divisions of the section playoffs.

In tennis, four titles were up for grabs between the MCAL and Bay Counties League West singles and doubles tournaments. Marin high schools swept all four, although that will always be the case in the two MCAL finals.

In soccer, Tam got a must-win game to advance to the NCS playoffs. Redwood made a statement with an upset victory to boost his own NCS resume. San Marin had a great special teams play to preserve a hard-fought victory against Rancho Cotate.

Additionally, a host of water polo teams successfully navigated the first two rounds of the NCS playoffs and remain in the hunt with the semifinals scheduled for Wednesday.

Abby King and Elena Fisher, Branson women’s volleyball

The Bulls claimed their 14th North Coast Section pennant in 15 postseasons and won the inaugural NCS Open Division championship on Saturday. King stepped up and provided a strong presence at the net in the finals against Marin Catholic with 10 blocks and eight kills. King also had six blocks in the semifinal win against Foothill. Fisher had a strong all-around game against Foothill with a team-high 14 kills, adding eight digs and five aces. Fisher also tied for team-high honors with 10 kills against MC.

Natalia Clifford and Natalie Stanford, Tam Women’s Volleyball

Clifford and Stanford piled up kills as the Red-tailed Hawks defeated Campolindo in four sets to win the NCS DI championship on Saturday. Clifford scored 25 kills and Stanford added 14 more, including the final two points to win the match, as Tam earned perhaps the biggest victory in program history by winning its second section title. Both players had double-digit kills in a three-set victory over Monte Vista in the semifinals. Clifford had 12 kills and Stanford added 10. The two also combined for seven aces, 10 kills and six blocks.

Mirabel Arlander, Branson women’s tennis

Arlander entered the MCAL singles tournament as the second seed and emerged as the winner without dropping a set. Arlander defeated Ellie Damiani of Marin Catholic and Eva Mohtashem of Archie Williams in the first two rounds. Arlander faced San Marin’s Deepti Bhat in the semifinals before facing Branson teammate Katie Warrin, the fourth seed, in the finals. Arlander won that match 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Jordan Marotto and Ella Povio, Redwood women’s tennis

The top seeds held their own in the MCAL doubles draw as Redwood’s top two players joined forces and claimed the title without dropping a set. Marotto and Povio won their first two matches and then faced the MC’s No. 4 team of Georgia Compagno/Heidi Koch. Marotto and Povio won to set up an all-Redwood final against the unseeded team of Julia Laury and Gwenn Ricordel, who defeated the No. 2 and No. 3 teams en route to the final. Marotto and Povio won 6-2, 6-4.

Carly Amborn, San Domenico women’s tennis

Amborn remained undefeated on the season by going three matches in the Bay Counties League West singles tournament to claim the title. Amborn did not lose a set all week to claim its second consecutive league title. He also reached the MCAL singles final in 2022 as a sophomore at Archie Williams.

Ann McDermott and Jane McDermott, Marin Academy women’s tennis

The BCL West doubles champions also repeated the victory, as the MA sisters claimed their second consecutive crown last week. Next, the McDermotts will look to defend their NCS D-II duals championship.

Timo Ural, Tam football

Tam’s standout receiver eclipsed the season’s 1,000-yard mark with another 100-yard game in a must-win game against Napa on Saturday. Ural caught five passes for 103 yards and a touchdown, adding another score on a 3-yard run, and Tam won 26-14 and qualified for the postseason. Ural has 39 catches for 1,049 yards on the season (an astonishing 26.9 yards per catch average) and has scored 12 total touchdowns.

Sean Cunneen, Redwood football

The Giants were already eligible for the playoffs, but a surprising 21-6 win over American Canyon on Friday night moved Redwood into second place in the Redwood Empire Valley and helped the Giants secure the No. 5 seed in the NCS D playoffs. -IV. Cunneen ran wild as he has often this season, racking up more than 200 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

Ryan Houlihan, Saint Marin soccer

The Mustangs were clinging to a 17-16 lead against Rancho Cotate on Friday night, having given up the potential tying touchdown. Rancho Cotate lined up for the extra point and Houlihan, one of the best defensive players in the league, made a great block to preserve the victory.

Maddox McLellan, Redwood men’s water polo

The sophomore scored a team-high four goals as Redwood needed a second-half comeback to edge Terra Linda 12-8 in the NCS DI quarterfinals. McLellan scored twice in the third quarter to help the Giants overcome a 5-3 halftime deficit.

Justin Tachiki, Marin Academy men’s water polo

Tachiki scored three goals in No. 3 Marin Academy’s first-round matchup against Vintage and then added four more goals, including one in overtime, as the Wildcats held on for a 9-7 victory against No. 6 Heritage in the NCS D-II quarterfinals.

Emma Slaught, Marin Catholic women’s water polo

Slaught had a pair of massive performances to lead No. 2 MC to a pair of wins in the NCS D-II playoffs. Slaught scored 11 of MC’s 18 goals in the first round against American Canyon and then scored eight more goals in the quarterfinal win against Heritage.

Taylor Fahy and Holly Hovey, Archie Williams women’s water polo

Fahy and Hovey contributed a good portion of the scoring as the Peregrine Falcons stayed alive in the NCS DI group with wins against Amador Valley and Monte Vista. Both players scored four goals against Valle de Amador. Fahy led the way with five goals in an 11-10 win over Monte Vista, while Hovey scored four times.