1996 Linden High Volleyball Team

The goal of winning a State Championship was paramount to the 1996 Linden High School
Volleyball Team. Having just lost in the state finals in 1995, Mother Lode League MVP Erica
Selsor told her team: “We are coming back here next year and we are going to win.” With
the bar set, Coach Bill Rood would endure many challenges throughout the 1996 season.
“The strength of our schedule and overcoming the Santa Barbara Tournament would be
critical to our run at the end of the season,” stated Rood.

In the first tournament of the year at Oak Ridge, the Lions would sweep all of their early
round opponents but they would suffer their first loss to perennial state power St. Francis,
two games to one. The girls would continue their dominance at the St. Mary’s/Lincoln
Tournament. After losing their first round game to Torrey Pines, the Lions worked their
way through the loser’s bracket into the tournament finals, facing Torrey Pines once again.
Avenging their first round loss, the Lions beat Torrey Pines to win the tournament. Notable
wins in their journey through the loser’s bracket were victories against St. Mary’s, Lincoln,
Santa Barbara, El Dorado, and Albany.

Playing high caliber opponents including St. Mary’s, Ponderosa, and Escalon, to name a few,
would usually prepare the Lions for what would be an easy league schedule. In 1996,
however, the team would find one of their toughest opponents right in the MLL in Bret
Harte. The Lions would have to take the Bullfrogs to five games each time in league play.
The team would play the Bullfrogs for a fourth and final time, beating them in three games
for a trip to the Sac-Joaquin Section Finals where they would similarly dismiss Justin Sienna
in three games.

Advancing to the Nor-Cal tournament was familiar territory for the Lions and they beat
their first round opponent with ease sending Yreka home quickly, outscoring them 45 to 6
in three games. In the semi-finals, Campolindo would be the next victim going down in 3
game sweep as well. The Lions would continue their winning ways in the finals, beating
Notre Dame in another three game sweep to win the Nor-Cal Championship and a place in
the State Finals. The determination to return the State Final was evident in the fact that the
Lions did not lose a single game in post season play heading into the finals.

Carrying a number 1 state ranking as well as a number 13 national ranking into the State
Finals appeared to have little impact on their finals opponent, Calvary Chapel, as the Lions
would find themselves down in the first game 0-11. The Lions seemed to have been
stunned and Coach Rood called a time out and asked his team, “Now what?” The Lions
responded and outscored Calvary 11-4 despite dropping the first game. That momentum
carried over as they would win game two but the battle was just beginning. Dropping game
three seemed to put the team into a downward spiral as they again found themselves down,
this time 11-6 in game four. Coach Rood again would call time out and, in his well-known,
confident style, imparted his wisdom. Taking the court after the time out, the loud and
strong Linden fan base gave the ladies a standing ovation. With Coach Rood’s direction
during the time out and the rousing ovation, the rejuvenated Lions ground out a 15-12 win,
pushing the championship into a game five. It was at that point the words of Erica Selsor
would ring true as the Lady Lions prevailed to win the second State Championship in school
history with a 15-8 drubbing in what looked like an over matched and stunned Calvary
Chapel team. Several records would fall that day as the team had 106 digs with Gina Troxell

and Suzanne Stonebarger getting 26 each. The spectacular serving was also rewarded with
the state championship record of 15 aces.

The 1996 Volleyball team was special in many ways. The unique collection of talent mixed
with the high level coaching and the cohesion of the all the player’s families was a recipe for
success. As with the 1990 Linden State Championship team, 8 of the girls would go on to
play in college, a testament of the tremendous program that was synonymous with Linden.
The family support was unmatched by any school in the state. At times the non-verbal
communication between coach and parents was critical. The energized group of fathers,
often forced to sit in a different area than the moms, would always correctly translate Coach
Rood’s hand gestures to tone down the “constructive criticism” being given to the officials
when they were on the verge of incurring a penalty.

The motto, “The Little School that Could,” was adopted by the team. It was an appropriate
description as this group of young athletes never wavered from their desire and goal to be
state champions. The size of the school never compared to the amount of determination,
dedication, talent, and love of the game that would make these ladies the 1996 California
High School State Volleyball Champions. The Linden Athletic Hall of Fame is proud and
honored to induct the 1996 Linden High Volleyball Team in the Class of 2012.

1996 Season Results