Today’s edition is sponsored by The Rose Hotel.
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Welcome to the Playbook!
It’s time for another week of the Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, your inside source for all sports when it comes to the East Bay Athletic League. Join me each week for some honest feelings about the good, the bad, and the ugly side of high school athletics!
The Big Picture looks at how our EBAL teams doing in terms of the final weeks of league play, as well as those teams that are already in the North Coast Section playoffs.
EBAL Power Rankings have some movement in the Mountain football ranking as a team climbs out of the bottom ranking thanks to a big win last week.
What to Watch has your NCS volleyball schedule for the second week of the playoffs. Also, see who is where this week in football action as the regular season wraps up.
Fast Five is taking a week off and will come back strong next week.
Got a great story idea for something coming up in the fall? Let me know at acesmag@aol.com!
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
EBAL season champions look to make deep playoff runs
Foothill girls’ volleyball will travel to top-seeded Branson for a semifinal match on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Dublin girls’ tennis finished 13-0 and alone on top of the EBAL after dispatching Monte Vista in the regular season finale.
Power Rankings as of Nov. 5.
EBAL GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Mountain Division
1. San Ramon Valley (24-8, 11-2): The Wolves were the top seed in D-I and got a first-round bye. In the second round they hosted and beat Castro Valley 3-1. Hosts No. 4 Campolindo on Wednesday in on semifinal.
2. Carondelet (25-8): The Cougars were one of two EBAL teams in the NCS Open division and had to play at James Logan, falling 3-0. Plays for 5th place Wednesday at Redwood.
3. Monte Vista (15-11): The Mustangs were seeded No. 7 in D-I and opened play hosting and beating Northgate 3-0. In the second round they went across the up north not No. 2 Windsor and took them out 3-1. Travels to No. 3 Tamalpais in the semifinals.
4. California (18-16): The Grizzlies had to go on the road to Tamalpais for an NCS first round and fell 3-0 to end the season.
5. Dougherty Valley (12-16): Season over.
Valley Division
1. Foothill (26-8): The Falcons were seeded fourth in the first-ever NCS Open division. They hosted Redwood in the first round and won 3-1. Plays at No. 1 Branson on Wednesday night.
2. Amador Valley (21-11): The Dons took out Petaluma 3-0 in the first round of NCS D-I, then lost in the second round to Campolindo by a 3-1 final.
3. Dublin (12-14): Season is over.
4. Granada (10-17): Season is over.
5. Livermore (4-21): Season is over.
EBAL FOOTBALL
Mountain Division
1. San Ramon Valley (8-1, 2-0): The Wolves had the bye week and get ready to close out the regular season with the Battle for Danville. This week: at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
2. California (7-2, 1-1): The Grizzlies get the De La Salle treatment falling 38-10. Interesting one coming up. This week: at Amador Valley.
3. Amador Valley (6-3, 1-1): The Dons got the one they needed, going into Danville and beating Monte Vista 32-28. This week: vs. California.
4. Monte Vista (5-4, 0-2): The Mustangs fall late to Amador Valley by a 32-28 final. This week: vs. San Ramon Valley.
*** De La Salle (7-0) is not included in the weekly Mountain Power Rankings, but the Playbook still tracks them each week.
Valley Division
1. Livermore (6-3, 3-0): The Cowboys take out Foothill 31-14 and set up a huge Battle of Livermore contest. This week: at Granada.
2. Granada (5-4, 3-0): The Mats get NCS eligible with a 48-20 over Dougherty Valley. Next up — a shot at the EBAL Valley title. This week: vs. Livermore.
3. Dublin (2-7, 1-2): The Gaels have the bye week and are getting ready for the last game of the season. This week: at Dougherty Valley.
4. Foothill (4-6, 1-3): The Falcons end their injury-riddled season falling at Livermore 31-14. This week: season is over.
5. Dougherty Valley (2-7, 0-3): The Wildcats travel to Livermore and get hit with a 48-20 loss to Granada. This week: vs. Dublin.
Wednesday, Nov. 6
North Coast Section girls’ volleyball – Open semifinals: Foothill (4) at Branson (1), 7 p.m.; James Logan (3) and Marin Catholic (2), 7 p.m. 5th place: Carondelet (6) at Redwood (5), 7 p.m. D-I semifinals: Campolindo (4) at San Ramon Valley (1), 7 p.m.; Monte Vista (7) at Tamalpais (3), 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 7
EBAL tennis: Singles, doubles at The Club in Livermore, all day.
Friday, Nov. 8
Football: EBAL Valley: Dublin at Dougherty Valley, 7:15 p.m.; Livermore at Granada, 7:15 p.m.; Foothill — bye. EBAL Mountain: California at Amador Valley, 7:15 p.m.; San Ramon Valley at Monte Vista, 7:15 p.m. Non-league: De La Salle at Clayton Valley, 7:15 p.m.
EBAL girls’ tennis: Singles/doubles tournaments, at The Club in Livermore, all day
Saturday, Nov. 9
NCS girls’ volleyball Open Finals: Semifinal winners, TBD; Third place: Semifinal losers, TBD; D-I Finals: Semifinal winners, TBD.
EBAL girls’ tennis: Singles/doubles tournament, at The Club in Livermore, all day
Pleasanton Preps: Falcons repeat as EBAL girls’ volleyball champions
In a dramatic week, the Foothill girls’ volleyball team took care of business and will hang another EBAL championship banner in the Falcon gym. Also: Trying to wrap my head around El Cerrito football scandal that just gifted Amador forfeit win.
Dennis Miller is a veteran sports writer and editor, covering sports in the Tri-Valley for over 35 years. In addition to being the editor of Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, he has written a weekly column for Pleasanton Weekly and PleasantonWeekly.com, “Pleasanton Preps,” since 2011. Email him at sports@pleasantonweekly.com.
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