SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The St. Francis volleyball team lost in the semifinals of the Super 8 Invitational Saturday. The Troubadours went 2-1 in pool play and lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Granite Bay.

“I learned that we have some work to do and that is OK,” said Head Coach Alynn Wright. “I was pleased with how we responded. We stepped on the court in the first set and it was all us. They settled down and did extremely well. I was pleased with the day.”

St Francis opened the day with a 25-19, 25-15 win over El Camino and the beat Nevada Union 25-13, 25-14. In its third game of the day, the Troubadours lost a three-set match to Vintage. After dropping the first set, St. Francis won the second set but lost the third 15-7.

The loss earned St. Francis the No. 2 seed out of Pool 2 and a matchup with Granite Bay in the semifinals. The Troubadours dropped the first set 25-16 but rebounded to take the second 25-22. It was only the fourth dropped set by the Grizzlies all season (two to St. Francis).

The Grizzlies took advantage of several St. Francis errors in the third set to win 15-7 and earn a berth in the championship match against Christian Brothers. The won in straight sets 25-20, 25-16.

St. Francis played without starting setter Ali Koumelis, who was replaced by junior Marissa Gollnick.

“I was extremely proud of Marissa for stepping into a very intense tournament,” said Wright. “She did a very good job. She had some incredible plays. I was really pleased and I was proud of the team for carrying her through it.”

The team finishes regular season action on Monday against Oak Ridge for Senior Night. With a win, the team can clinch the Delta River League title.

Super 8 Invitational

St. Francis High School

Pool 1

Granite Bay def. Christian Brothers, 25-20, 25-16

St. Mary’s def. Oak Ridge, 25-14, 25-20

Granite Bay def. Oak Ridge, 25-15, 25-15

Christian Brothers def. St. Mary’s 25-20, 25-22

Christian Brothers def. Oak Ridge, 25-18, 25-18

Granite Bay def. St. Mary’s 25-21, 22-25, 15-11

Pool 2

St. Francis def. El Camino, 25-19, 25-15

Vintage def. Nevada Union, 25-22, 25-10

St. Francis def. Nevada Union, 25-13, 25-14

Vintage def. El Camino, 25-23, 25-14

El Camino def. Nevada Union, 25-14, 25-18

Vintage def. St. Francis, 25-17, 25-27, 15-12

Championship Bracket

Christian Brothers def. Vintage, 22-25, 25-14, 18-16

Granite Bay def. St. Francis, 25-16, 22-25, 15-7

Consolation Bracket

St. Mary’s def. Nevada Union, 25-23, 25-12

El Camino def. Oak Ridge, 25-15, 22-25, 15-10

Championship

Granite Bay def. Christian Brothers, 25-20, 25-16

Consolation Championship

El Camino def. St. Mary’s 25-21, 25-16