After hosting and winning a first round game, Escalon’s varsity Lady Cougars volleyball team then saw their season come to an end on the road in second round action.

The girls were in the EHS gym on Oct. 29, hosting Placer.

“The fact that we made playoffs and had the chance to host a home game is testament to how tough the TVL was and our preseason matches really helped us make the postseason this year,” said head coach Shay Beam. “We played a great game Tuesday, all around. I think the girls were excited to keep going and they played well as a team.”

The squad, with the umber six seed, defeated number 11 Placer in straight sets, 25-16, 25-16, 28-26.

“Serving and our hitters really stole this game away,” Beam explained. “Back at the line we had three servers with four aces: Karisa McNeil, Lisa Murga, and Aniston Hunt. Hitting wise, Chloe Fraser had 11 and both middles, Barkus and Murga, had three blocks and eight kills each with no hitting errors, which is awesome.”

The first round win put Escalon on the road to face off with number three seed Roseville, traveling on Thursday, Oct. 31.

“Going into that match we knew they were a very tough serving team and had two good middles,” Beam said. “We couldn’t stop them, unfortunately. Chloe Fraser did a great job Thursday night; she had 15 kills while Emma Strong and Claire Barkus had five kills apiece.”

Escalon, ending with a 12-13 overall record, will also lose seven seniors from this year’s squad and Beam said it is definitely bittersweet.

“They are big pieces of our team,” Beam said of the seniors. “I know a few of them want to continue their volleyball careers and we can’t wait to cheer them on. We wish luck and love to all of our seniors.”