The Branson School girls volleyball team secured their second consecutive North Coast Section (NCS) Open Division championship by defeating Marin Catholic in straight sets on November 8, 2025. The match, held in Kentfield, California, concluded with scores of 25-21, 27-25, and 25-22, marking the Bulls’ 15th section title in their last 16 attempts across various divisions.
Branson middle blocker Abby King, reflecting on the victory, stated, “Honestly it’s amazing. Our team has worked so hard this year. The first time we played MC we really came out with a strong, competitive — just like we really wanted to win and we had that same attitude today.” The Bulls demonstrated their dominance throughout the match, showcasing an impressive combination of strong serves, strategic plays, and robust defense.
### Historic Achievement
Since the inception of the Open Division last season, Branson remains the only program to hold the title. They previously topped the section rankings in 2022 and 2023, further solidifying their status as a powerhouse in California high school volleyball. The team’s success can be traced back to 2009, coinciding with the start of head coach Michelle Brazil‘s tenure. Under her leadership, Branson has only finished as the runner-up once, in 2017.
Brazil noted the competitive nature of this year’s tournament, stating, “I feel like this year, more so than other years, really was like who’s having a good night at the right moment. We’ve very much proven that anyone can beat anyone.” With Branson entering the tournament as the No. 4 seed, the team had to overcome formidable opponents, including No. 5 San Ramon Valley, No. 1 Redwood, and No. 2 Marin Catholic.
### Key Match Highlights
Branson’s performance against Marin Catholic highlighted their extensive skill set. The Bulls began the match with powerful serves, where King and teammate Blake Cussen each recorded multiple aces. Brazil explained the importance of serving strategy, emphasizing the need to disrupt the opposing team’s offense while maintaining consistency.
Setter Lily Gross remarked on the team’s focus during practice, saying, “We’ve been working on zone serving so much. I think that made a huge impact because we kept the other team out of system.” This strategy proved effective, as Branson’s hitters, particularly Ella Tsai, who scored a team-high 17 kills, capitalized on the disruption.
King’s contributions were particularly notable during critical moments. She delivered three crucial kills late in the second set, helping Branson overcome a 19-23 deficit to secure a 27-25 set win. This pivotal moment shifted the momentum firmly in Branson’s favor.
### Defensive Excellence
Branson’s defensive capabilities were on full display in the third set, as they faced a determined Marin Catholic team. Brazil praised her players for their resilience, stating, “I thought we did a really good job of just playing our game, keeping it steady, and keep fighting.”
The Bulls showcased their defensive strength with five players recording double-digit digs, led by libero Lucy Tusher with 18 digs. Tsai followed closely with 16 digs, while Cussen added 15. Both setters, Gross and Kate Bianchi, also contributed significantly, with Gross achieving 11 digs and Bianchi 10.
In a decisive moment during the third set, Branson’s blocking proved critical. After Marin Catholic won an intense point at 18-18, King responded with a powerful block, helping the Bulls regain the lead at 19-18. She added another block soon after, pushing the score to 23-21, before Tsai sealed the match with a kill that found an open spot in the back-left corner of the court.
### Looking Ahead
With this victory, Branson (20-7) not only secured the NCS title but also advanced to the State Playoffs alongside Marin Catholic (25-7), Redwood (20-9), and San Marin, which qualified from Division III. The seeding meeting for the playoffs is scheduled for Sunday, and anticipation builds as these teams prepare for the next phase of competition.
Reflecting on their success, King remarked, “We have really good team energy and team camaraderie. We all obviously love each other and we work really well together. Our friendships off the court help with our play on the court.” This sense of unity appears to be a key factor in Branson’s ongoing success in high school volleyball.