SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Outside hitter Charlise Rowe pounded out a career-high 12 kills, helping St. Francis to a .322 team hitting average and a 25-11, 25-10, 25-16 sweep of Sheldon in the varsity finale of Thursday's Delta League girls' volleyball tripleheader at the SFHS gym.

The match also served as Senior Night, with the team honoring its five 2023 grads-to-be: Rowe, outside hitter Olivia Mlikotin, setter Kate Fobes, middle blocker Sophia Garza and outside hitter Sofia Alkire. All five seniors started the match, resulting in Mlikotin playing on the right side. The occasion also saw Fobes compile a career-high 35 assists and 10 digs.

Mlikotin tallied 11 kills on 24 swings and served up two aces, Alkire recorded seven digs, and Garza hit six kills on just eight attempts. The lone non-senior to start the match was junior middle Lily Zeff, who paired with Fobes, Alkire and Mlikotin on three blocks while providing 4-for-5 hitting on offense.

Junior libero Jacqueline Smith led all players with 19 digs while serving up two more of her team's six total aces for the match. Both serving points came amidst a 7-0 run in the first set that extended the Troubies to a 23-9 lead. Fobes opened the contest at the service line, and propelled SFHS to a 10-0 start. Rowe had three kills in that run, while Mlikotin found open court on a pair of shots from the right pin.

The Troubies benefited from seven attacking errors by the Huskies in the second, but also enjoyed a hot streak on the attack when Rowe and Mlikotin each hammered out two kills in an 8-0 run to 21-7. Then in the third set, head coach Alynn Wright began substituting for her seniors one-by-one, allowing each to enjoy an ovation upon exiting the match. Mlikotin was the last to check out, and for good reason: she pounded out four kills, served up both of her aces, and teammed with Zeff on a stuff block in the third set alone. Meanwhile, junior Caroline Foraker returned to her role as a six-rotation threat, and tabulated five of her six total kills in the final stanza.

The varsity sweep followed straight-set victories for both the Troubie frosh and junior varsity squads. The freshman won by scores of 25-9, 25-6, and tallied 11 aces in the second set – including seven by Colleen Medina in the team's early 10-0 run. The SF jayvees followed with a 25-7, 25-12 win, with freshman Chloe Johnson leading the way with seven kills and a service ace. Layla Alexander also provided early offense in the second set with back-to-back kills on the left side, then Jessica Dillie helped shut the door with three kills along the right side in the final five points.

The Troubie varsity improves to 19-7 overall and 10-1 in league play, maintaining at least a one-match edge on Pleasant Grove for the program's first Delta League title since 2019. The SF junior varsity moves to 28-2 for the year, while the frosh picks up its 30th win for a 30-4 mark. Both JV and frosh are undefeated in Delta League matches, with only one set loss between the two (JV at PG on October 11).

The three teams conclude the regular season at Cosumnes Oaks on Thursday. Match times are 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. The varsity will then learn its fate in the Sac-Joaquion Section Div. I playoffs when the brackets are announced on Friday.