Three Trans-Valley League opponents were on the schedule for Escalon’s varsity volleyball girls this week. They handled each of them in short order, winning in straight sets, defeating Riverbank, Livingston and Hughson in 3-0 decisions.
Following are brief recaps of each match.
Riverbank
25-7; 25-10; 25-14
Rylie Lattig 27 assists
Emily Vickers 13 kills, Mandy Murphy 12 kills
Mallory Berhorst 3 blocks
Grace Ferreira 11 digs
Emily Vickers 3 aces
Livingston
25-3; 25-5; 25-10
Rylie Lattig 16 assists, Carsyn Hood 11 assists
Mandy Murphy 14 kills
Emily Vickers 12 aces
Grace Ferreira and Emily Middleton, 3 digs
Valeria Gonzalez 3 blocks
Hughson
25-17; 25-16; 25-17
Rylie Lattig 17 assists, 4 aces
Mandy Murphy 15 kills; Emily Vickers 11 kills
Grace Ferreira 15 digs
Mallory Berhorst 3 blocks; Mandy Murphy and Emily Vickers, 2 blocks
“Rylie Lattig is doing an amazing job setting up our offense, Mandy Murphy and Emily Vickers are dominating the game at the net, and Grace Ferreira is leading our back row,” said head coach Teresa Williamson. “With so much depth on this team, every player contributes every game in a big way.”
JUNIOR VARSITY
“We won all of our games last week,” noted head coach Krystal Rodriguez. “It was a slower tempo and not the speed we’re used to, so keeping the game at our pace was tough but it worked out in our favor.”
Wins came against Riverbank, Livingston and Hughson. All three were in straight sets, defeating Riverbank on the road Monday by a 25-13, 25-8 final to start the week. Then they were home to host Livingston on Tuesday, winning 25-5, 25-10 and the JV girls capped the busy TVL schedule on the road at Hughson on Sept. 23, winning 25-7, 25-15.
“Captains Sophia Martin and Macie Vickers led their team all week having three victories and a great tourney,” said Rodriguez. “At Riverbank both captains had great consistency, leading in stats for both of their positions.”
Against Livingston, standouts were Makenzie Mendes and Kendra Gwartney.
“Makenzie showed how consistent she can be in front row and continues to push herself in practice,” explained Rodriguez. “Kendra had solid serving, having four aces.”
The coach added she saw “huge improvement” coming from setter Karisa McNeil with 15 assists against Hughson, as well as Natalie Titsworth also improving.
“She had a solid defensive game,” against Hughson, noted Rodriguez. “She’s been my most consistent player this year in serving as well.”
And even after the hectic pace of the week, the girls suited up for a full slate of games at the Stockton Classic Tournament on Saturday.
“We took first in the Silver bracket winning all games but one, losing to Del Oro,” Rodriguez added. “They played the best games they’ve played all year that day.”
FRESHMEN
It was a 3-0 sweep for the freshmen, topping Riverbank 25-7, 25-12 to start the week, followed by a 25-22, 25-12 win over Livingston and a 25-17, 25-10 victory against Hughson.
Against Riverbank, leaders were Chloe Fraser with seven aces, two kills and six assists; Mady Herrera with five kills and Alondra Gonsalez with four. Riley Ogilvie and Cheyenne Ratkiewicz each had four aces.
In the Livingston match, Natalie Giuntoli had four aces and seven digs, Ogilvie added seven aces and eight digs. Lexi Briggs recorded five aces and two kills with Haley Barker getting one solo block.
Closing out the first round of league against Hughson, Gonsalez had five aces and three kills; Briggs notched four aces; Fraser had six aces and four kills; Angelina Sorrick had three digs.
“It’s very exciting to see the statistics start to show more kills,” said coach Shay Beam. “The girls have been improving”
The coach added that the team is eager to play Hilmar this week, their only match, as they look to avenge their earlier season loss to the Lady Yellowjackets. That was their only loss in the first half of league.
