On the road for a pair of Trans-Valley League contests this week, Escalon’s varsity volleyball girls split their contests. They lost at Ripon on Tuesday and came back to get a win at Mountain House on Thursday.
In the Oct. 10 contest at Ripon, the girls kept the games close but lost a 3-1 decision to the host Lady Indians, 23-25, 25-19, 18-25, 23-25.
“Brielle Arauza had 31 assists, Hannah Murphy and Kaitlyn Herrera had 11 kills each,” explained head coach Teresa Williamson.
Murphy also had two blocks, while Tiana Lopez was busy on the night, 22 digs and three aces in the competition.
Thursday’s trip to Mountain House had a better outcome, though the varsity Lady Cougars had to battle for the win against a determined Lady Mustangs team. Escalon prevailed in a 25-19, 26-24, 25-23 final.
Several players got involved in the TVL victory, paced by Arauza with 25 assists, Mya Beary with 10 big kills. Leila Phillips and Herrera had two blocks apiece, Lopez and Arauza each contributed three aces and Lopez again led the team in digs, notching 29 in the 3-0 win.
Continuing a busy week of action, the girls headed off to Stockton on Saturday – after Friday night’s Homecoming festivities at EHS – and went to the Stockton Classic Tournament.
“We went 2-2 and finished fourth in the tournament,” said Williamson.
Leaders in the tournament were: kills, Hannah Murphy with 27 and Kaitlyn Herrera with 21; blocks, Peyton Arnold with seven; digs, Tiana Lopez with 73; aces and assists: Brielle Arauza with nine aces and 58 assists.
The girls were scheduled to host Modesto Christian on Tuesday, Oct. 17 after The Times went to press. They travel to Hughson for a game on Thursday, Oct. 19 and then close out the regular season with Senior Night festivities on Tuesday, Oct. 24, hosting Hilmar at 6:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity
It was a split for the JV Lady Cougars this week as well, falling on the road to Ripon by a 2-0 final. They rebounded with a 3-0 win Thursday at Mountain House. No scores or stats were available for the JV team. Escalon’s JV girls will be back in action on Thursday, with a game at Hughson. They were scheduled to play at home against Modesto Christian on Tuesday, after The Times went to press and are back on the home court Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. to take on the Hilmar Lady Yellowjackets.
Freshmen
The youngest Lady Cougars lost at Ripon, 2-1, falling in the opener 22-25, coming back to even it up at 25-23, then losing in the deciding game, 12-15.
“Everybody played their hearts out, I was extremely proud of them all,” said coach Morgan Jensen.
Liz Cortes led in kills with seven, Madi Faria added four. Kailey Costa and Faria each had 25 digs, while Mya Scott recorded four blocks.
“We battled and didn’t roll over under the pressure,” said Jensen. “Regardless of the loss, we went home smiling.”
Action this week for the freshmen was scheduled to include a home match hosting Waterford on Oct. 17, Tuesday, after The Times went to press, a home game next Tuesday, Oct. 24 against Hilmar and a game on the road at Hughson in between on Thursday, Oct. 19. Freshmen play at 4:30 p.m.
