Athletic News
Craig Leads Basketball to Upset over Rocklin in Lodi Tournament
LODI, Calif. – Sophomore Lauren Craig scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead St. Francis to a 58-54 victory over Rocklin in the Lodi Christmas Tournament Thursday afternoon. Rocklin entered the game ranked No. 5 in the Sacramento Bee Top 20.
“Lauren is just getting stronger offensively and playing very aggressively to get her shot,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “She is battling on the boards against more experienced players. She has really given a great effort and climbing far faster than anyone would expect.”
Basketball’s Strong Effort Falls Short against Del Oro
LOOMIS, Calif. – St. Francis erased a double-digit first-quarter deficit to take Del Oro down to the final seconds before the Eagles prevailed 46-45 in a hard-fought non-league game Monday night.
“Our defensive intensity was very strong,” said Head Coach Vic Pitton. “We gave ourselves an opportunity and got back in the game after digging a deep hole. It is the resiliency and chemistry of this team that allows them to play as a unit. They are getting better and better.”
Varsity Falls to Petaluma in Pleasant Valley; Freshman Win Kennedy Tournament
CHICO, Calif. – The St. Francis varsity team fell by two points
to Petaluma in the third-place game of the Pleasant Valley Viking
Tournament on Saturday 38-36.
The game was tied at the half after a strong second quarter by
the Troubadours, resulting in 15 points. St. Francis led by one
heading into the final quarter but Petaluma pulled it out by a
basket.
Three Players Score in Doubles Figures in Win over Woodcreek
CHICO, Calif. – Three players scored in double figures to lead the St. Francis basketball team to a 53-37 victory over Woodcreek in the Pleasant Valley Viking Tournament Friday night.
Junior Susie Rogers scored a game-high 14 points to lead the team, scoring in double figures for the third time this season. Sophomore Lauren Craig had a season-high 10 points, while senior Amanda Davenport also recorded 10 points.
Basketball Drops Opener at Pleasant Valley Tournament
CHICO, Calif. – The St. Francis fell behind by 14 points in the first half and fought back the rest of the game before falling 42-35 in the first round of the Pleasant Valley Viking Tournament Thursday night.
St. Francis failed to score in the quarter but trailed just 2-0. Colfax scored 20 points in the second quarter to take a 22-8 lead at the half. The Troubies cut into the lead in the second half but fell by seven points.
Catching Up with Volleyball Player Loni Kreun
BOZEMAN, Mont. – Former Troubadour volleyball player Loni Kreun had a successful first season playing for Montana State University.
The true freshman was second on the team in kills (339) and digs (274) for a Bobcat team that went 6-25 and 4-16 in the Big Sky Conference.
“Overall we did not do as well as we were hoping,” said Kreun during a recent visit to Sacramento. “It was more of a developmental year. We had a lot of freshmen starters and incoming freshmen. It is hopeful for the future with the same group of girls.”
Basketball Opens Season with Win over Placer
PLACER, Calif. – The St. Francis basketball team opened the 2013-14 season with a 51-40 victory over Placer Tuesday night. Susie Rogers scored a team-best 15 points and Abigail Dow added nine points for the Troubadours.
Overall, 10 different players scored in the contest. Raven Robinson added six points, Lauren Craig notched five points and Kyra Huffman ad Danika Bailey each chipped in four points.
It was the season opener for the Troubadours.
Volleyball Season Ends in Northern California Final
GRANITE BAY, Calif. – The fourth time was still not the charm. Playing for a berth in the CIF State Championship game for the second consecutive season, the St. Francis Troubadour volleyball team lost in the Northern California final to Granite Bay 3-0 Tuesday night.
“Give credit to Granite Bay,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “They are a very good serving team and they took us out of our offense. They played good defense. I was proud of the girls for the way that they fought back. It shows their character and heart that they were not willing to give up.”
Four Water Polo Players Earn Section Honors
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Brinnley Barthels and junior Lauren Charter both were named to the CIF Sac-Joaquin All-Section water polo first- team and were among four Troubadours overall earning section honors.
Charter tied for third on the team with 28 goals with a team-best 18 assists and a team-best 47 steals during the season. She averaged 1.48 points per game, the second-best average on the team.
Basketball Drops Foundation Game to Franklin
CARMICHAEL, Calif. – Junior Susie Rogers scored a game-high 14 points in a 52-41 loss to Franklin in the Foundation Game to open the 2013-14 season for the Troubadours.
“Susie has been playing like this in practice,” said Head Coach Pitton. “We have used her as the role model to set the stage for everyone else. We have challenged the rest of the players to practice like Susie. It showed tonight. She played a heck of a game.”
Volleyball Advances to NorCal Final
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team will defend their NorCal Championship Tuesday, advancing with a 3-0 win over No. 3 seed Homestead Saturday night in the CIF State Volleyball Championship.
St. Francis (33-8) opened with a strong first set, posting a 25-13 win over the visiting Mustangs. Homestead tied the match at 1 with a 25-20 win in the second, snapping a 32-set win streak by the Troubies in the regular season and playoff matches at home.
Cross County Places Three in Top 20 at State Meet
Team Finishes Ninth Overall
FRESNO, Calif. – St. Francis placed three runners among the top 20 to lead the team to a ninth-place finish overall Saturday at Woodward Park.
“We knew our team would show up well prepared,” said assistant coach Mason Myers. “The girls had two weeks since our last race to mentally prepare. Lauren, Miranda and Madison all had huge PRs on this course. It was very exciting.”
Volleyball Opens Northern California Bracket with Win
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The second-seeded St. Francis volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 win over Lowell Tuesday night in the first round of the Northern California bracket 25-18, 25-17, 25-17.
“We passed better and involved all the hitters,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “It was a very balanced attack. We played some good defense. Lowell was a very scrappy, well-disciplined team.”
Leader of the Pack: LaRocco, Troubadours Take on State Championships
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Lauren LaRocco has always liked running. She
just did it in a different form, chasing a ball. Now she is
racing against the clock and leading a St. Francis team into
Saturday’s CIF State Cross Country Championships with a chance to
win some hardware.
“I am trying not to really have any expectations,” said LaRocco,
who enters the meet ranked fourth in Division I according to
CalPrepTrack.com. “I just want to run my best. I will do the best
I can.”
Volleyball Garners No. 2 Seed in Northern California Bracket
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team was awarded a No. 2 seed and will face No. 7 seed Lowell in the first round of the Northern California bracket Tuesday of the 2013 CIF State Volleyball Championships presented by Farmers Insurance.
“We are excited about the No. 2 seed and hopefully have the opportunity to host Saturday night,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “It is not going to be an easy road because all the teams at this point are good and well coached. It can be anybody’s game on any given night. We have to take it one match at time.”
Cross Country Journey
St. Francis Senior Madison Rawson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Madison Rawson had participated in a running club in Pensacola but had never been part of a team. One long distance call and four years later, she is one of the elite runners in the state of California on one of the best teams heading into the CIF State Championships on Nov. 30.
Rawson, who lives in Roseville, moved to the area from Florida just prior to her freshman year. Before arriving or even attending her first day at her new school, Sacramento’s St. Francis, she was signed up for the cross country team by her parents.
Volleyball Drops Section Title Match to Granite Bay
DAVIS, Calif. – Top seed and No. 1 ranked Granite Bay won the Sac-Joaquin Section title with a 25-13, 25-20, 25-11 win over No. 2 seed St. Francis. The Troubadours had won the last two section titles, including a win over Granite Bay last season.
“They were trying way too hard and I think they thought they had something to prove,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “Granite Bay played a great match, their defense was stellar and they put up a tremendous block. Obviously, we have things to work on in practice.”
Senior Setter Koumelis leads the Troubadours into Section Finals
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Ali Koumelis admits she did not talk for most of the first two years. But she made her presence known on the court with her play. Now, four years later, she is the unquestioned leader of the St. Francis volleyball program heading into the Sac-Joaquin Section final against Granite Bay Thursday night.
Annual Jerry Poole Alumnae Association Game
The St. Francis Basketball program will host the annual Jerry Poole Alumnae game on Friday, Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. at the St. Francis Gymnasium. Alumnae planning to attend and/or play, please contact Assistant Coach Sole Montemayor at 916-284-8568 or email her at Smontemayor@stfrancishs.org.
Volleyball Defeats St. Mary’s to Advance to Section Final
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section championship with a 3-0 win over St. Mary’s of Stockton Tuesday night. The Troubadours will face state No. 1 ranked Granite Bay at 6 p.m.
“I feel so proud of my teammates and am so happy with the game we played tonight,” said senior Karson Bisharat, who finished with five kills and three blocks. “We supported each other and it was a lot of fun.”