The opening round of the 2026 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Boys Volleyball Playoffs began at Golden Valley High on Tuesday as the Cougars hosted Tracy High. Golden Valley came in at 26-14 overall and 9-1 in CCC play, while Tracy entered 14-9 overall with an 8-2 league record.
Set 1
Tracy opened serving, but Golden Valley quickly settled in, taking their first point off a Tracy error which was followed by an early kill from Damon Saechao to build momentum. The set stayed tight early, with both teams trading points and Tracy briefly taking a 5-4 lead off Golden Valley mistakes. Jake Green responded with a kill that evened the score, which began a stretch of back-and-forth play until Golden Valley began to separate midway through the set. After an ace from Jake Green, the Cougars built a 19-14 lead, which forced a Bulldogs’ timeout. Tracy pushed late, closing the gap to 24-20, but Green finished the set with a kill. Golden Valley took the set 25-20, led by Chao and Green who each managed 6 kills.
Set 2
Golden Valley carried momentum into the second set, opening with strong defense highlighted by a dig from Michael Moua that led to the first point. Early kills from Joshua Chao and Moua helped Golden Valley establish control, and a dominant stretch pushed the lead to 11-3. Golden Valley maintained pressure through consistent offense from Chai Her and Jake Green, while the Bulldogs struggled to respond consistently, despite a few points from Carson Gates-Cecilio. Strong defense and minimized errors allowed Golden Valley to extend the lead to 24-17 before Chao closed the set with another kill. Golden Valley won 25-18.
Set 3
Tracy struck first with a kill from Lucas Sanders, but the set quickly evened out. Golden Valley responded with balanced play, including a clutch dig from Marc Her that set up a smart finish from Jake Green. The teams traded points through a 6-6 tie, with long rallies highlighting both defenses. Golden Valley pulled ahead after an 8-6 stretch, sparked by kills from Richard Saechao and Joshua Chao. An ace from Marc Her extended the lead, and Jake Green continued to lead the offense with multiple kills as the advantage grew to 17-13. Strong team play helped Golden Valley maintain control. With Richard Saechao adding another kill late, the Cougars were able to close the set 25-19.
After the match, Golden Valley senior captain Chai Her reflected on the team and their focus. “Our mindset coming into this game was to dominate and not let up, and just be confident.” He pointed to the team’s chemistry as the difference, adding, “We’ve been playing with each other for about seven years, so that really helps us stay connected.”
This loss brings Tracy’s season to a close at 14-10 after a strong league run. Golden Valley advances in the Division II playoffs and now turns their attention to the next round. The Cougars will travel to Loomis on Wednesday, April 29 at 6 p.m. to face Del Oro, who enters the matchup at 23-13 and ranked among the top 100 boys’ high school volleyball programs in California according to MaxPreps. With both teams bringing proven records and postseason momentum, the game is set to be a competitive battle for a spot in the next round.
