The 2023 season has come to an end for the Oakdale High School volleyball team. The varsity Lady Mustangs were the 12th seed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Girls Volleyball Division III playoffs. They traveled to Modesto to face fifth seed Beyer High School on Tuesday, Oct. 24. It was a 3-1 loss for the Mustangs. Oakdale won the first set 25-19 but dropped the final three sets 5-25, 16-25, 13-25.

Oakdale finished with a 14-15 overall record and placed fourth in the Valley Oak League.

Mustangs head coach Kaitlin Burke reflected on the team’s journey to the post season: “The varsity team most definitely had to overcome adversity with the early injury of a seasoned senior. This situation prepared the team for playing for each other and not just individual triumphs. They would once again feel the crunch of losing a seasoned outside hitter late in the season.”

Getting past all those hurdles was key to crafting a solid overall campaign, the coach noted.

“They did not waver and rose to the occasion. There were some road bumps along the way, but their determination, perseverance and love for the game took them into a playoff spot,” Burke said. “It was fun to watch them play rally after rally and they showed many happy moments in almost every match.”

Beyer, meanwhile, was on the road and defeated host Escalon by a 3-1 decision on Thursday night, Oct. 26.

Coach Burke said she is optimistic about the future of the program.

“The junior varsity had a strong showing in many matches. These ladies played tough matches and learned to run many offensive plays at the net. Although their record does not necessarily show the true skill set of this team, they most definitely showed dedication and the spirit of being a Mustang.”