YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - The Placer Hillmen girls volleyball team finished off CIF Sac-Joaquin Section regular season with a sweep over the River Valley Falcons (25-24, 27-25, 25-18) on Oct. 23.

The match impacted how the Foothill Valley League standings would finish as the top three teams in the Foothill Valley League were guaranteed a postseason berth.

Placer defeated River Valley in five sets on Sept. 30 and if the Falcons were victorious in the finale, they would have been tied with the Hillmen at the end of league play.

River Valley came out flat in the beginning of each set as Placer sent strong serves and built five-point margins early, but the Falcons clawed their way back and got back in contention of each set over time.

River Valley head coach Kellie Tongson leads on during the Falcons’ loss to Placer on Oct. 23. Photo by Steven Bryla

River Valley head coach Kellie Tongson expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that she was hoping to get the victory, but the Falcons couldn’t overcome the early mistakes. 

As all final-home games of each sports season focuses on seniors and their journey throughout the program, River Valley 2026 outside hitter Jada Barr broke the previous single-season record for digs (346) in a Falcons’ uniform.

Barr had nine digs in the match and led River Valley with 10 kills. Barr told YSBC that she is going to miss everyone in the program that has helped her grow throughout the past four seasons.

Barr added that playing in the Falcons program felt like more of a family than just a team. One of those family members mentioned was River Valley senior setter Alexa Campos.

Placer senior opposite hitter Ruby Carnahan (4) tips the ball in the Hillmen sweep against River Valley on Oct. 23. Photo by Steven Bryla

Campos and Barr are best friends and the chemistry they share on the floor with one another is unique.

“She (Alexa) is someone I can always lean on when I’m not doing my best and she is a great support system on and off of the court,” Barr said.

Campos led the Falcons with 18 digs against Placer and had 24 assists in the defeat. Campos accomplished her 1000th assist on Oct. 9.

Campos expressed that she wouldn’t be the player she is if it wasn’t for Barr and wouldn’t have had as much fun if she wasn’t out there with the entire journey together.

River Valley senior defensive specialist Emylee Hull served an ace and nine digs. Falcons’ senior middle hitter Micalia Ross-Morales had a kill and a dig in the loss.

River Valley senior outside hitter Jada Barr (13) smashes the ball on Oct. 23 in the Falcons’ loss to Placer. Photo by Steven Bryla

On top of the seniors’ home finale, it was also Tongson’s final home game as head coach. Tongson is stepping down at the remainder of the season and has been the plan all-year long as she is the current head volleyball coach at Yuba College.

Tongson told YSBC that this year has been a blast and expressed it loud and proud on Thursday that “We’re not done yet,” Tongson said.

Tongson and River Valley swept the season series against Yuba City and qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2019. 

The Falcons were scheduled to travel on Tuesday, Oct. 28 for the first round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoff to Oakdale.

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River Valley senior Emylee Hull (7) digs a ball in the Falcons' defeat to Placer on Oct. 23. Photo by Steven Bryla