Top sports moments: Bulldogs fall to 5-time champion Hamilton in title match

The Hamilton High volleyball team won a fifth-consecutive Northern Section Division V title, defeating Los Molinos 26-24, 25-13, 25-15 on Nov. 17 at Red Bluff High.

Los Molinos made its first trip to the championship game in school history and played its first state playoff game, along with establishing a new school record for wins by finishing the season 35-9-1.

Los Molinos entered the title contest game as a perennial playoff team stacked with juniors who are playoff veterans, and will be eligible to return next season.

"We're a year ahead of where I thought we were going to be. I thought next year for sure we'd be favored and make a run at the sections and maybe even NorCals next year but we're a year ahead," said Los Molinos coach Chas Konopka.

While the Lady Bulldogs' season ended Nov. 20 with a loss to Branson in the state playoffs, next season should definitely be interesting.

Clarivel Castillo was named the Most Valuable Player of the Five Star League, and joined teammates Kaitlyn Seaman and Emily Bailey on the All-League squad.