Vanden boys volleyball rallies for win over Vacaville

Vikings overcome 2-set deficit to hand Bulldogs first MEL loss

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:54pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a volleyball game, with sharp planes of blue, red, and yellow overlapping to create a sense of motion and competition.A cubist interpretation of the intense back-and-forth action of a high school boys volleyball match.Vacaville Today

The Vanden High School boys volleyball team came back from down two sets to defeat Vacaville 22-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-11 in a crucial Monticello Empire League contest on Monday. Libero Vincent Mercado anchored the defense with a team-high 18 digs while dishing out six assists and going a flawless 12-for-12 from the service line. Rigdhen Lama racked up a team-high 15 kills, while junior setter Niles Munstermann added 13 kills, 20 assists and nine digs.

Why it matters

The win improved Vanden's MEL record to 6-2, while Vacaville suffered its first league loss and fell to 9-1. Vacaville still holds a 1.5-game lead over second-place Pioneer (7-2) with two league contests remaining and can clinch at least a share of the program's first MEL title with a win over Rodriguez on Wednesday.

The details

Vanden came back from down two sets to defeat Vacaville in five sets in a crucial Monticello Empire League matchup. Libero Vincent Mercado had a strong defensive performance with 18 digs, six assists, and a perfect 12-for-12 serving. Rigdhen Lama led Vanden with 15 kills, while Niles Munstermann added 13 kills, 20 assists, and nine digs.

  • The match took place on Monday, April 14, 2026.

The players

Vincent Mercado

The libero for the Vanden High School boys volleyball team, who anchored the defense with 18 digs, six assists, and a perfect 12-for-12 serving performance.

Rigdhen Lama

A player for the Vanden High School boys volleyball team, who led the team with 15 kills in the win over Vacaville.

Niles Munstermann

The junior setter for the Vanden High School boys volleyball team, who contributed 13 kills, 20 assists, and nine digs in the victory.

Vacaville

The Vacaville High School boys volleyball team, who suffered their first Monticello Empire League loss of the season, falling to 9-1 in league play.

Pioneer

The Pioneer High School boys volleyball team, who are in second place in the Monticello Empire League with a 7-2 record.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Vanden will host Pioneer on Wednesday, April 16, 2026 in a match that will likely determine second place in the Monticello Empire League. The winner would need Vacaville to lose at least one of their final two matches to have a chance at the league title.

The takeaway

Vanden's comeback win over league-leading Vacaville keeps them in the hunt for a share of the Monticello Empire League title, setting up a crucial matchup with second-place Pioneer that will likely decide the runner-up spot in the league standings.