Lucas Anderson (19) and his Redwood boys volleyball teammates head off the floor after defeating Tam 3-0 at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Beckett Shewey of Redwood spikes a ball for a point against Tamalpais High School at the Marin County Athletic League boys championship game in San Anselmo on Friday, April 26, 2024. Redwood won 25-16, 25-17, 25-20. For the complete story, visit www.marinij.com. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Lucas Anderson (19) of Redwood serves during their MCAL boys volleyball championship game against Tam in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Tam defenders David Bloom (23) and Vincenzo Bezerra (7) block a ball hit by Beckett Shewey (15) of Redwood at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Owen Penrose (15) of Tam digs a Redwood ball for a save at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Seth Cabrera-Ampie (20) of Tam sets a ball during their MCAL boys volleyball championship game against Redwood in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
The Redwood boys volleyball team celebrate after defeating Tam 3-0 at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
The Redwood boys volleyball team celebrate after defeating Tam 3-0 at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Owen Penrose (15) of Tam gets his finger tips on the ball as Redwood defenders jump for a block at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Evan Wang (2) of Redwood blocks a ball at the net his by David Bloom (23) of Tam at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
The Redwood boys volleyball bench celebrate after defeating Tam 3-0 at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Owen Penrose (15) of Tam digs a Redwood ball for a save at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
William Garland (7) of Redwood hits a ball past Nathan Friedman-Lowenthal (25) of Tam at the net at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Auden Baker (4) of Redwood makes a play at the net during their MCAL boys volleyball championship game against Tam in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Auden Baker (4) and Beckett Shewey (15) of Redwood jump to try and block a ball hit by David Bloom (23) of Tam at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood boys volleyball assistant coach Matt Shewey talks to his team during their MCAL boys volleyball championship game against Tam in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Yaseen Ashraf (11) of Tam makes a save on a Redwood ball at the MCAL boys volleyball championship game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Friday, April 26, 2024. No.1 Redwood defeated No. 3 Tam 3-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Lucas Anderson went back to the service line with his team trailing by a point in the first set on Friday. By the time Anderson was done serving, the Redwood High volleyball team was well on its way to its first MCAL championship since 2019.
Top-seeded Redwood seized control of the match during that run en route to a 25-16, 25-27, 25-20 sweep over No. 3 Tam at Archie Williams.
“It feels amazing,” Anderson said. “We had a streak of not winning championships. I came on last year as a freshman not really knowing what I was doing at all so to come out here a year later and win feels amazing.”
All told, Anderson had seven aces and added six kills. Redwood also got key performances from libero Jack Alley (17 digs), setter Auden Baker (29 assists, five kills), and middle hitter Beckett Shewey (12 kills) to claim the title. Charlie German added eight kills and five digs. Evan Wang had six kills and five digs.
“The passing was great, the digging,” Shewey said. “Our libero, Jack, played amazing. He had a lot of good ups. We came in here knowing it wouldn’t be an easy match and we’d have to play our hardest no matter what.”
Redwood (17-5) automatically qualifies for the North Coast Section playoffs which begin on Tuesday. Tam (16-17) is also expected to receive an at-large bid.
Redwood trailed 16-14 before a kill by Shewey set up Anderson for his second service run of the game. Anderson had back-to-back aces to give the Giants an 18-16 lead then Shewey made an instinctive play that resulted in an unconventional kill and a 20-16 lead.
Tam had Redwood’s defense scrambling on the point and the set came right at Shewey around chest level from close range.
“I’ve learned over the years that you don’t get perfect sets every time,” Shewey said. “You have to adapt to it.”
Shewey flicked the ball just over the net with his elbow and found an open spot on the opposite court, allowing Anderson to keep serving.
Anderson had two more aces, including one on set point to get the Giants off and running.
“We just found a weak point in their defense and we were just targeting that over and over again and it worked every time,” Anderson said. “That’s kind of the key to winning these types of games – just finding their weaker points and capitalizing on them.”
Anderson found himself serving again early in the second set as Redwood turned a 2-1 lead into an 8-1 advantage.
“Lucas is definitely one of our best servers – most consistent and a good solid jump floater that moves around very consistently,” Redwood coach Ben Wang said.
Tam never really recovered from that opening run, getting as close as 10-5 before Redwood pulled away for a comfortable 2-0 lead.
The Giants took a 12-6 lead in the third but Tam put together a couple of rallies to keep the set close. The Red-tailed Hawks pulled within 14-13 and were close again at 19-17 but were never able to catch Redwood.
Shewey finished off the match with a thunderous kill as this group of Giants celebrated their first championship together. Redwood won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019 before the COVID pandemic derailed the 2020 season.
“We really built this team up from scratch,” Alley said. “When I came in freshman year it was mostly guys that I’d never seen on the court before. Coming off a history of excellence, we had to build the team up, getting closer and closer to the title every year and now I think our team is all coming together.”
Redwood dropped just one set in league play en route to the title.
“We have a really balanced team in terms of the skill sets so we’ve got outstanding defensive players and we’ve got outstanding guys at the net,” Ben Wang said. “They’re typically not the same person but they complement each other and that’s what makes a good team able to win in volleyball.”
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