St. Pat's Volleyball Pulls Off Thriller Over Vacaville Christian

Bruins rally in fifth set to defeat Falcons in non-league matchup

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:24pm

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In a back-and-forth boys volleyball match, St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School came back from a fourth-set loss to defeat Vacaville Christian 25-21, 19-25, 25-20, 24-26, 15-8 in the decisive fifth set. The Bruins were led by senior outside hitter Vincent Rodriguez and freshman middle blocker Brandon Manchester, who stepped up in the final set to power the team to victory.

Why it matters

This non-league contest between two strong volleyball programs showcases the competitive spirit and talent of high school sports in the region. The thrilling five-set match highlights the importance of mental toughness and teamwork in overcoming adversity on the court.

The details

After the teams traded the first four sets, St. Pat's jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the fifth set and never looked back. Freshman middle blocker Brandon Manchester anchored the frontline with two quick kills and a block to fuel the Bruins' decisive surge. Vacaville Christian struggled with service errors and fatigue, as the team was down to just nine players due to a recent injury.

  • The match took place on Friday, March 28, 2026.

The players

Danette Domecus

The head coach of the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School boys volleyball team.

Vincent Rodriguez

A senior outside hitter for the St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins.

Brandon Manchester

A freshman middle blocker for the St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins.

Martin Elliott

The senior setter and on-court leader for the Vacaville Christian Falcons.

Alicia Borges

The head coach of the Vacaville Christian Falcons boys volleyball team.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't want to mess up, but we also wanted to control our hits. The only thing that kept us together was ourselves and how we were able to back each other up.”

— Vincent Rodriguez, Senior outside hitter, St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins

“Even though he matches up with the other pins, he just had a stronger mentality. A stronger mentality always wins.”

— Vincent Rodriguez, Senior outside hitter, St. Patrick-St. Vincent Bruins

“We've had to position people in certain locations that they haven't played because of our loss from our injury. We had some people doing six rotations that have never done it before or playing positions that they haven't trained enough yet to where they're able to continue through five sets.”

— Alicia Borges, Head coach, Vacaville Christian Falcons

“He is the on-court leader and the off-court leader. He is the first one to help the guys out, to get on them, hold them accountable, but also give them praise. He is physically and mentally our glue.”

— Alicia Borges, Head coach, Vacaville Christian Falcons

“When he does something well, like an aggressive block or hit, he loses it. A lot of them do. We've been working on staying positive and getting excited from doing positive things.”

— Alicia Borges, Head coach, Vacaville Christian Falcons

What’s next

The Bruins will look to build on this thrilling victory as they continue their season, while the Falcons will aim to regroup and get healthy as they prepare for their next match.

The takeaway

This back-and-forth battle between two talented high school volleyball teams showcased the importance of mental toughness, teamwork, and overcoming adversity in the pursuit of victory. The Bruins' comeback win in the decisive fifth set demonstrated their resilience and ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most.