In a very busy stretch for the Escalon varsity volleyball girls, they played Sierra, Riverbank and Modesto Christian during the week and then saw tournament action on the weekend.
They faced Windsor (D2), Nevada Union (D3), James Logan (D1) and Exeter (D2) at the tournament.
The varsity Lady Cougars opened up the week with the non-league contest with Sierra of Manteca.
“Sierra was a fun and exciting game. It was two great teams battling it out and we prevailed,” said head coach Teresa Williamson.
Escalon won the match, three sets to one, losing the first 22-25 before taking the next three, 25-19, 25-11, 27-25.
Rylie Lattig had 45 assists and 10 digs against the Timberwolves and Emily Vickers had 24 kills and 18 digs. Faye Hernandez had a strong game with six aces and 19 digs, Gianna Bava had six kills and six aces. Also contributing were Lisa Murga, seven kills and four blocks, Carsyn Hood with six kills and Sophia Martin with five kills.
On the road at Riverbank for Trans-Valley League action, the varsity girls swept the host Lady Bruins, 25-7, 25-8, 25-9.
Lattig logged six aces, 27 assist, three digs; Mallory Berhorst added six kills, one block; Martin and Emily Vickers both with five kills. Also, Hernandez had 10 digs, four aces; Madison Smith added three kills and three digs.
It was another 3-0 win for Escalon against Modesto Christian, with Lattig coming away with 11 aces and 22 assists. Several players got on the score sheet with kills, including Bava with seven, Martin with five, Emily Vickers, Murga, Hood and Claire Barkus adding three kills each.
At the Stockton Classic Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 8, the Lady Cougars ultimately finished in third place. They opened up by defeating Windsor, 2-0, 25-20 and 25-19. Against Nevada Union, it was a 2-0 win in scores of 25-20, 25-19 and the varsity girls continued to roll with a 25-20, 25-12 decision over Nevada Union, winning 2-0.
They took their only loss to James Logan, falling 2-1 to the much larger school, 25-19, 20-25, 5-15 but rebounded to put away Exeter in two, 25-21, 25-22.
“We were the only D4 team at our site and our only loss was to a D1 school who we took to three sets,” Williamson pointed out. “The girls played some amazing volleyball this weekend and it was so fun to watch. They played at that next level and played some of the best volleyball I have seen so far.”
JUNIOR VARSITY
Opening their week against Sierra, it was a 2-0 loss for the Escalon JV volleyball girls.
“Going into it I knew they’d be a good team and give us some good competition,” said head coach Shay Beam. “It was a good game especially at the end … serving was consistent but we made too many errors when it came to hitting and passing.”
Solid efforts came from Chloe Fraser, who had two aces and 12 kills.
“She was the most consistent I’ve seen her all season,” said the coach.
Also of note, Karisa McNeil had 19 assists and two aces, Madyson Herrera had 10 digs, two aces and six kills.
“We lost 21-25 and 22-25,” Beam added of the tight match.
The girls were then on the road for an Oct. 5 game at Riverbank in league play. They won in two, 25-14 and 25-7.
“We got to have a little fun and switch things up,” noted Beam. “Ashlee Conde and Marina Franzia had four aces and two kills.”
Herrera added three aces and five digs while Fraser had seven kills.
Modesto Christian does not have a JV team, so the girls had only the two matches this past week.
FRESHMEN
For the youngest Lady Cougars, it was a 2-0 showing this week.
They battled Sierra and won in three, 23-25, 25-14, 15-11.
“Hailey Bates led us with five aces, Lesley Cardenas had eight assists and Gracie Airola had six kills,” said head coach Morgan Gomez.
At Riverbank, the frosh girls took it in two, 25-13, 25-8. Airola had four aces while Cardenas notched six assists. Also having strong games were Chloe Green with three kills and Madison Babasa with five digs.
