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Losses To Ripon, Wins Over Livingston For Volleyball Squads
VICKERS DIG
Libero Macie Vickers drops down to dig out a ball in varsity volleyball action, hosting Livingston in Trans-Valley League play on Sept. 13. All three levels of Escalon volleyball swept to wins over the visiting Wolves. Marg Jackson/The Times

With a split of their matches this week, Escalon’s varsity Lady Cougars fell to Ripon and topped Livingston.

“We were excited for a good matchup against them but they got the best of us pretty early on in set one and unfortunately we couldn’t bounce back quick enough to put up a better fight,” head coach Shay Beam said of the 11-25, 19-25, 17-25 loss to Ripon on Sept. 11.

Sophia Martin had five kills, Claire Barkus added four and Lisa Murga had six kills on the night. Karisa McNeil added seven digs and eight assists, Macie Vickers had 10 digs.

Wednesday, the girls swept the Lady Wolves form Livingston off the court, 25-6, 25-14, 25-9.

Chloe Fraser, Murga and Barkus each had six kills while, Peyton Houser Keaton added five.

“Serving was our strength during the match, Lisa Murga had 10 aces while Natalie Giuntoli had three aces,” said Beam.

Aniston Hunt had 12 assists and McNeil added 10 assists.

 

JV

Against Ripon on Sept. 11, it was a 2-1 loss for the JV Lady Cougars at home. They fell 24-26 in a hard fought first set, battled back to take a close second set with a 25-23 final and then ran out of gas and took a 6-15 loss in the third and deciding set.

“Peyton Merrill led with four aces, Lesley Cardenas had eight assists,” noted head coach Alyssa Cogburn. “Gracie Airola had five kills and Madi Babasa had 14 digs.”

Back in action a couple of days later, the girls were home against Livingston, this time sweeping to the win on Sept. 13, 25-4, 25-12.

Emma Rangel had seven aces and 12 digs, while Cardenas had nine assists. Marina Franzia added seven kills.

“The girls really showed the heart they had this week,” Cogburn noted. “They played hard against both teams, and I’m very proud of their growth.”

 

Freshmen

Falling 12-25, 25-21, 14-16 to visiting Ripon on Sept. 11, head coach Morgan Gomez said her team dug themselves “into a hole in the first game and had a hard time coming back” from that loss mentally for games two and three, though they did push the visitors to three sets.

Selah Jansen had four aces, Samari Webster added three assists. Violet DaSilva had two kills and Brynn Caton notched 13 digs.

They came back with a straight sets win over Livingston, 25-11, 25-10 on Sept. 13. DaSilva had eight aces and three kills, Elizabeth Castro and Webster each had three assists.

On Saturday, they took part in the Stockton Classic Tournament and took second place at the Linden site. They beat Waterford 25-17, 25-17; edged out McNair 25-13, 28-26; and beat Merrill F. West, 25-16, 25-14.

“We then finished off the tournament losing to Central Catholic, 19-25, 25-18, 9-15,” Gomez said. “It was a long day and a tough final match, but all in all I’m proud of the growth we have had this week and the growth in the communication that we are seeing.”