Up 25-14 in the third set, the Monta Vista gym floor shook as senior Nikhil Bapat leaped into the air. The sound of a loud clap, created by Bapat’s game-ending kill, triggered loud cheers and stomps from the crowd—sending the MVHS Boys Volleyball team past Amador Valley High School (AVHS) and on to the second round of the NorCal Boys Volleyball championship.

This year, there are two stages to the boys volleyball playoffs. Because there is no state championship for varsity, the section division – Central Coast Section, leads into NorCal’s quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, with competitions split between Northern California and Southern California. After winning the CCS championship this past Saturday against Bellarmine CP, MVHS moved onto the NorCal quarterfinals and played against AVHS.

With their victory against Clovis High School on May 16, Bapat says the team’s constant success is due to their ability to stay focused on their competitor’s weak points, capitalizing on knowledge from games in the past.

“Ultimately it’s going to come down to the same thing, and it’s playing on our side and focusing on the little things that can help us win the game,” Bapat said. “But we just wanted to stay disciplined, stay focus on our side of the net and get the job done.”