For years, the Saint Francis and Archbishop Mitty High School varsity girls volleyball teams have found themselves competing for the same thing: a Central Coast Section (CCS) title. Last season, the rivalry reached its peak when the two teams met in the CCS final. The final set resulted in the Monarchs taking home the title, but Saint Francis is determined to be the next team to get their name etched in history.
The Lancers are halfway through their season and much closer to achieving their goal. They are currently 11-6 and ranked 38 in the state. This year’s team looks very different from the one that took the court last year. Seniors who graduated and new underclassmen who proved that they deserve a spot on the roster have reshaped the team. The 2025-26 varsity squad finished their season 20-12, with a .625 win percentage. Our current team has the exact same win rate and if they continue to perform at this level throughout the second half of their season, they will have the opportunity to cross the bridge that their predecessors couldn’t.
Four straight wins had the Lancers building momentum heading to their most recent matchup, then came Mitty and their historical volleyball dominance. The loss to the Monarchs ended our winning streak, but it renewed one of the most iconic rivalries in Saint Francis history. The emotions that fuel these competitions don’t just disappear when the season ends. They carry over from one year to the next, through graduating classes and changing rosters. Mitty may be up 1-0 in the series against us, but there is an upcoming contest looming on the horizon.
The Lancers will take on the Monarchs Oct. 13 at Saint Francis. This match is the first of five West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) matches in a row that will close out their regular season. The outcome of the matchup will set the tone for their most difficult stretch of opponents and eventual playoff run. The girls have another chance to prove how much this new team has grown, and whether they are ready to finish what last year’s team started. With half the season still ahead, the Lancers are continuing to chase the title that slipped away last year and landed in the hands of their biggest opponent.
