Sierra outlasts Ripon in 5-set volleyball thriller

Ole Schmidt's clutch kills in the final set propel Sierra to victory

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:21am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a high school volleyball match, with players and the court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and form.A cubist interpretation of the intense back-and-forth action that unfolded on the court during the Sierra-Ripon volleyball match.Ripon Today

In a back-and-forth non-league boys volleyball match, Sierra High School defeated visiting Ripon High School in five sets, 23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 20-25, 16-14. Sierra's Ole Schmidt came up with three consecutive kills in the middle of the decisive fifth set to lead his team to the thrilling victory.

Why it matters

This was an important non-league matchup between two strong volleyball programs in the region. The five-set battle showcased the high level of talent and competitiveness in local high school boys volleyball.

The details

After Ripon took the opening set, Sierra responded by winning the next two sets. Ripon then evened the match by taking the fourth set, setting up a winner-take-all fifth set. With the score tied 11-11 in the final set, Ole Schmidt delivered three straight kills to give Sierra the lead and eventual victory.

  • The match took place on Friday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Ole Schmidt

A key player for Sierra High School's boys volleyball team who delivered three crucial kills in the decisive fifth set to lead his team to victory.

Sierra High School

The home team that rallied from an opening set loss to defeat visiting Ripon High School in a five-set thriller.

Ripon High School

The visiting team that took the opening set but ultimately fell to Sierra High School in the five-set match.

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What they’re saying

“That was an incredible match. Both teams played their hearts out and it came down to a few key plays at the end.”

— Sierra Head Coach

The takeaway

This thrilling five-set volleyball match showcased the high level of talent and competitiveness in the local high school boys volleyball scene, with Sierra High School edging out Ripon High School in a back-and-forth battle that came down to the wire.