Sports
Boys volleyball: Dons Headed to NCS Final After Win Against Deer Valley
Amador Valley set to host Falcons Saturday.
Amador Valley 3, Deer Valley 1
Records: Amador Valley 28-3, Deer Valley 27-8
The Star: Amador senior John Buchenauer played while suffering from the ill effects of food poisoning, turning in a nine-kill, six-block effort.
Find out what's happening in Pleasantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Turning Point: After losing the second game 25-17, Amador coach Aaron Harper pulled his team together during the break. The Dons went on to dominate the third game 25-17.
The Quote: "He was sick all night and throwing up from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. and made it to his required classes. He went home after school and slept for a little bit and suited up in time for the game tonight. He did an outstanding job, and had some major blocks," said Harper about Buchenauer's performance.
Find out what's happening in Pleasantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Who's Next? Amador will host Foothill for the North Coast Section crown on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Bottom Line: The Dons will face their crosstown rival and fellow EBAL power in a match to decide the section championship and claim town bragging rights.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amador Valley senior John Buchenauer didn't let a tough battle with food poisoning stop him from playing in the North Coast Section boys volleyball semifinal against Deer Valley Thursday night.
His play while under the weather may have made the difference.
Buchenauer played the majority of the match, blasting eight kills and blocking four shots as the Dons clinched their spot in the NCS finals by defeating the Wolverines in four games, 25-16, 17-25, 25-17, 25-21.
"I thought I was going to pass out a couple of times, but the trainers just gave me some great advice: just keep drinking fluids and I think it really helped," said Buchenauer as he was lying down on the Amador bench.
Amador coach Aaron Harper praised Buchenauer's heart and determination to play although being ill for the past several days.
"He was sick all night last night and throwing up from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., and he made it to his required classes," said Harper. "He went home after school and slept for a little bit and suited up in time for the game tonight. He did an outstanding job and had some major blocks to get our momentum going."
The Dons (28-3), dominated early, scoring the first three points of the match and never trailing in the opening set.
Deer Valley (27-8), however, took control of the second set after trailing early, finishing the set on a 17-9 run after tying the match at 8-8. Amador, however, would control the third set, pulling away to a 10 point lead before winning the set 25-17.
Harper called a time out while down 13-10 in the fourth set to make sure his team was on the same page, and though the score showed they might not have been before the stoppage in play, they certainly were after.
The Wolverines (27-8) went up by three at 20-17 after the timeout, seemingly destined to push the game to a tiebreaker, but Amador went on an 8-1 run to finish the game, and closing out Deer Valley's season. Harper was confident that had the game gone to a fifth set tie break, the Dons would have still pulled it off.
"They won game two. It was scary, they're an amazing team," Harper said. "For us to come out win the third one and then hold on to win the fourth, it was a great game."
Connor Farrell led Amador with 10 kills and added a block, and Brandon Barkdull had nine kills and six blocks.
The Dons will host crosstown rival and defending NCS champion Foothill in the NCS championship on Saturday. The game is set for 7 p.m., but there is a chance it could be pushed to an earlier start because the Foothill Senior Ball is also Saturday night. Foothill swept De La Salle 3-0 in its semifinal match.
