Escalon takes the court in Ripon on Saturday afternoon, looking to capture its second Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship.

The varsity volleyball girls put away Western Sierra Collegiate Academy out of Rocklin in straight sets on Tuesday, Nov. 2 – taking the match in 25-11; 25-10; 25-11 fashion.

Top seed in the division, the Lady Cougars will do battle against the No. 2 seed Sonora Lady Wildcats in the finals. Sonora defeated Ripon in the semifinals.

There were several outstanding performances for Escalon in the semifinal round, including Rylie Lattig with 20 assists and Carsyn Hood with 15. On the kills list, Mandy Murphy had 17 and Emily Vickers added 12.

Murphy and Vickers are the only two players left from the 2019 team that brought the first ever Section championship to EHS in volleyball. The 2020 season was shortened due to COVID and did not have any playoffs. So, this will be the title defense for Escalon.

Murphy was a sophomore and Vickers a freshman for that championship team; now, as a senior and junior, they hope to repeat the feat.

In semifinal action, Grace Ferreira had 13 digs on Tuesday and Murphy added 11; Murphy, Hood, Valeria Gonzalez and Mallory Berhorst all had two blocks. Notching a pair of aces each were Macie Vickers, Emily Vickers, Haylee Barajas, Bella Cormack and Murphy.

Action begins Saturday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. at Ripon High School.