Spartans spikers smash Portola

Just like last year, it will be East Nicolaus vs. Hamilton in the finals.

But to make sure the Spartans volleyball team got another shot at the team that dropped them in the Northern Section Division V championship, they had to get past visiting Portola on Thursday.

And they did, rather quickly.

For the 15th time this season, it was a Spartan sweep — a 25-21, 25-16, 25-15 thumping of the third-seeded Tigers, guaranteeing they will be heading north to Red Bluff on Saturday for another shot at the Braves.

"We played really, really well," East Nicolaus co-head coach Christopher Abruscato said.

No. 1 Hamilton, which went 1-1 in Mid-Valley League play against East Nicolaus this season, advanced to the finals with a victory at home over No. 4 Etna.

The second-seeded Spartans relied on the predictably strong output of setter Haley Uhland, blocker Juliet Conant and hitter Stephanie Hagins.

Uhland dished out 35 assists, tallied eight digs and five kills and Conant added 15 kills, six digs, four aces, two blocks. Hagins chipped in with 15 kills and nine digs.

In the 2008 title, Hamilton prevailed 23-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-22. And all throughout this season, Abruscato had an inkling it would again be a Spartans and Braves showdown at the end.

"Hamilton and us, were destined to be in the finals," he said.