Faith Christian senior middle hitter Presley Berry (10) pushes a ball over the net on Saturday, Nov. 8 in the Lions’ loss to Big Valley Christian. Photo by Chris Pedigo

SACRAMENTO, CA (YSBC) - The Faith Christian Lions and the Sutter Union Huskies girls’ volleyball teams made the 530 proud on Saturday, Nov. 8 as they competed in their program’s first CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Volleyball final.

Faith Christian took on the Big Valley Christian Lions of Modesto in the SJS Division VI final. 

The match was a classic No. 1 vs. 2 matchup as both teams finished the regular season with more than 20 wins a piece. 

Lions head coach Geoff Harris expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that he felt like they were a step behind on every play of the match.

Faith Christian senior outside hitter Kiana Marin (15) serves during the Lions’ loss to Big Valley Christian on Saturday, Nov. 8. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Faith Christian was able to take the first set of the match, but BVC rallied for the next three sets and took home the blue banner.

Despite the outcome of the matches, all teams in the finals qualified for the CIF State Volleyball and the Lions drew the No. 2 overall seed in the Division VI NorCal Division.

The farthest Faith Christian could go is to a NorCal final on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

In the first round of the CIF D-VI playoffs, the Lions will host the Anderson Valley Panthers of Boonville on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m.

Harris said to YSBC that they are getting back to work in the gym and attempting to make adjustments with getting back to playing Faith Christian volleyball.

Sutter entered their first SJS since joining the section in 2022. The Huskies played a familiar foe when they played against the Bear River Bruins.

Faith Christian junior opposite hitter Mia Bryan (11) attempts to tip the ball on Saturday, Nov. 8 in the Lions’ defeat to Big Valley Christian. Photo by Chris Pedigo

This was the first time these teams played another despite Bear River won the “Battle of the Buttes” tournament at Sutter in the first weekend of September.

The Bruins were able to clinch their first SJS section title in over a decade and took the match in four sets (25-20, 25-27, 25-18, 25-16).

The Huskies had too many errors throughout their match as effort and energy were never in question.

Sutter junior middle blocker Taylor Palmer (12) tips the ball over the net on Saturday, Nov. 8 in the Huskies’ loss to Bear River. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Despite the defeat to a talented Bear River squad, Sutter was given the first overall seed in the Division V bracket of the state playoffs.

As the No. 1 seed, the Huskies earned a first-round bye and will play the winner of Quincy/Colfax on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m.

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Sutter junior libero Eden Bryan (17) digs a ball during the Huskies’ loss to Bear River on Saturday, Nov. 8. Photo by Chris Pedigo