Just like old times for Mission

The last time the Mission San Jose High girls volleyball team won a North Coast Section match, Bill Clinton was in his first term as president of the United States. The Chicago Bulls had won a third consecutive NBA title and "Unforgiven" won best picture at the 65th Academy Awards.

The year was 1993 and it was also a special year for Mission, which won a co-championship in the Mission Valley Athletic League along with James Logan.

The Warriors went on to win its first two NCS Division II playoff matches before falling to Castro Valley in the finals.

This year's version of Mission may or may not be as talented, but the Warriors continue to stake their claim as one of the top teams in NCS as it posted a Division I first-round win in a thriller over MVAL rival Irvington 15-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-19 on Wednesday.

No. 7-seeded Mission is now 3-1 against Irvington this year, and the third one was by far one of the toughest matches the Warriors have endured this season.

With the win, Mission advances to the quarterfinals where it plays at No. 2 San Ramon Valley at 7 p.m. Saturday.

"This gives us a lot of momentum," Mission coach Donnie Hu said. "It gives the girls confidence that they can win at a high level. We won't be intimidated by San Ramon Valley."

The Warriors (14-6), who last made NCS two years ago but suffered a first-round loss to California, got off to a quick start in taking a 7-1 lead in the first game. They opened up a 10-2 lead moments later.

But the feisty Irvington team, which was seeded No. 10, wouldn't go away without a battle. Irvington (14-12) went on an 12-3 run to take a 14-13 lead.

Back-to-back aces by Katie Lopez gave the Vikings a 20-15 advantage and back-to-back blocks by Teasara Thompson gave Irvington the first game.

Lopez finished with four digs, 11 kills and two aces. Teammate Stephanie Cao had 38 assists and six digs and Thompson had 17 kills and nine digs.

That first match got Mission going, which went on to win the next three games for the win. All three were about as tight as can be.

In the second game, Mission rode Keila Mah's back as she delivered a kill to give Mission a 25-17. Mah had three kills of Mission's final five points in the second. Mah finished with 18 kills, two aces and two blocks. Teammate Ashlyn Iwatani had 19 assists.

"It was a good match on both sides," Irvington coach Kim Martin said. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. I can accept this better than (losing in) the (league) playoffs. They laid it all out on the court."

Liberty d. James Logan: No. 8 Logan (16-10) suffered an 18-25, 25- 20, 25-17, 23-25, 15-10 loss to No. 9 Liberty (17-18). Logan got 27 assists from senior Molly Hancock and 13 kills from freshman Danielle Ioramo.

Contact Steve R. Waterhouse at srwaterhouse@bayareanewsgroup.com.

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