GAZETTE PHOTO JILL BALLINGER SENIOR MORGAN FOLEY (SECOND FROM RIGHT) GETS A HUG FROM TEAMMATE PATRICIA SCHELLENTRAGER AFTER THE GRIZZLIES BEAT LE GRAND ON MONDAY. ALINA PARGA AND TRICIA MIDDLETON SHARE IN THE CELEBRATION. Earlier this season, MCHS varsity volleyball coach Debbie Leonard said she wasn’t quite sure what she had for a team this season to defend Mariposa’s Southern Athletic League title.

She found out Monday evening as the Lady Grizzlies downed Le Grand in four sets, 26-24, 25-27, 25-20, and 25-21.

The victory ended SAL play and locked the two rivals in a tie for the league championship, someting Mariposa claimed sole possession of last season with its towering front line. Both teams ended with identical 12-2 records. Le Grand topped Mariposa twice, once on the Lady Grizzlies’ home court in a 5-game marathon, and once at home. But the Bulldogs did fall to Turlock Christian during the season, the Mariposa swept that 3-game series which gave it a shot at a co-championship in Monday’s showdown.

“Tonight, the girls finally played their game,” said Leonard after the game. “That’s the team I’ve been looking for all season.”

Mariposa was led by the offensive play of exchange student Martha Bertrand who posted 14 kills and logged a pair of aces.

The Lady Grizzlies defense outhustled the Bulldogs. Brooke Barrett finished with 20 digs, and Morgan Foley found the handle for 13 digs.

Patricia Schellentrager had 3 blocks and Alina Parga added 3 kills, 1 block and 11 digs.

Emily Darcy led the team in assists with 18, followed closely by Brooke Earling with 17.

“I’m so proud of each athlete. They worked together as a team and believed in themselves,” Leonard said.

In the mid-season CIF Division IV power rating, Mariposa was pegged at 12th and Le Grand at 7th. The top eight teams in the final power ratings host first round playoff games. As of Tuesday morning, the final ratings were not posted, but the Lady Grizzlies should have climbed the ladder. They will open the playoffs next Tuesday.