Paige Reed St. Patrick/St. Vincent-Vallejo – Volleyball

Overcoming demons early in the year is good mojo for a team looking to make a deep postseason run. After its season was ended by Marin Catholic-Kentfield each of the last two years, the St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo girls volleyball team got a little payback on the Wildcats with a 2-1 win on Sept. 8. Paige Reed leads the charge for a Bruins squad — who were 26-4 as of Oct. 15 — that’s eyeing more than just an NCS championship.

Overcoming demons early in the year is good mojo for a team looking to make a deep postseason run. After its season was ended by Marin Catholic-Kentfield each of the last two years, the St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo girls volleyball team got a little payback on the Wildcats with a 2-1 win on Sept. 8. Paige Reed leads the charge for a Bruins squad — who were 26-4 as of Oct. 15 — that’s eyeing more than just an NCS championship.

SportStars Magazine: You won 17 of your first 18 matches. What’s the secret to the hot start? 

Paige Reed: In the beginning of the season, we didn’t know what kind of team we were gonna have. There are lot of underclassmen on the team, and going through the season I just had an open mind, especially because over the summer I was so busy. Our team didn’t work together over the summer. When we got together for tryouts, we knew we were gonna be a good team. That first win gave us confidence — beating Marin Catholic. Also, we’re not a very tall team and our defense is awesome.

SSM: The NCS semis is as far as you guys have gone the last two years. Why will you go further in the playoffs this year?

PR: This year, with having beaten Marin Catholic, and knowing we can beat top teams, like going five (sets) with (2011 Div. III state runner-up) Albany, we believe. … Individually everyone on this team knows how good we can be and how far we can go.

PAIGE’S QUICK HITS

Favorite subject: Civics

Favorite athlete: DeAndre Jordan

Favorite Starbucks item: Hot White Mocha

Honorable Mention

Kendall Stuscavage — With a time of 21:43, the College Park-Pleasant Hill senior runner set a Castle Rock Park record in the 3.2 mile race by 15 seconds on Oct. 10.

Karris Johnson — The California-San Ramon senior RB racked up 347 yards and four TDs on 26 carries as the Grizzlies won a 41-38 slugfest against San Ramon Valley on Oct. 12.

Joe Mixon — The junior RB for Freedom-Oakley played a part in five of his team’s seven TDs in a 49-48 win over Pittsburg on Oct. 12. He caught three TDs, rushed for one, and also threw for a score.