Taking two out of three matches in their first week of action, head coach Teresa Williamson had plenty of praise for her varsity volleyball girls.
"I couldn't be prouder right now," she said following Thursday's four-game battle with Ripon Christian to take a 3-1 loss. "Win or lose, they played well and I like the teamwork they have."
Escalon kicked off the week with wins against Central Catholic and Linden before hosting powerhouse Ripon Christian on Thursday.
It was their third match in as many days. The host Lady Cougars won the first game by a 25-16 margin and pushed RC over the next three as well, but couldn't quite muster the win.
Ripon Christian took the next three games 28-26, 25-16, 25-21 so the host Escalon team definitely pushed the Lady Knights.
"My defense is very solid," said Williamson. "I think there would have been a good possibility of going to a game five (against RC) if we hadn't had back-to-back games. I think fatigue had a little bit to do with it, but I don't want to take anything away from Ripon Christian, they are a good team."
Captain Shaylynn Beam showed some of that fire on the court that her coach is expecting from her, and had 21 assists, 10 digs, two aces and three blocks in a monster night against RC. She was in double digit assists in the two previous games during the week as well. Other standouts in the RC contest were Cassidy Caton and Megan Faria with 13 kills each, libero Nicole Bianchi with 25 digs. Tuesday at Central Catholic, the varsity was a 25-19, 25-16, 25-12 winner, getting stronger as the evening wore on.
"We started slow in game one, I think it was first game jitters," said Williamson. "We played solid in games two and three."
Wednesday hosting Linden, it was a close contest but Escalon again took it in three, winning 25-20, 25-20, 25-17.
"Again, defense is what beat them," Williamson said of taking down the Lions. "They had some good hitters, but Shay, Nicole and Cassidy dug balls all night."
The week wrapped up with the intense match against RC.
"I'm definitely happy with how we're improving each match," Williamson said. "The girls are working hard in practice and I've really got a lot of confidence after the RC game, the girls are playing really solid."
"I couldn't be prouder right now," she said following Thursday's four-game battle with Ripon Christian to take a 3-1 loss. "Win or lose, they played well and I like the teamwork they have."
Escalon kicked off the week with wins against Central Catholic and Linden before hosting powerhouse Ripon Christian on Thursday.
It was their third match in as many days. The host Lady Cougars won the first game by a 25-16 margin and pushed RC over the next three as well, but couldn't quite muster the win.
Ripon Christian took the next three games 28-26, 25-16, 25-21 so the host Escalon team definitely pushed the Lady Knights.
"My defense is very solid," said Williamson. "I think there would have been a good possibility of going to a game five (against RC) if we hadn't had back-to-back games. I think fatigue had a little bit to do with it, but I don't want to take anything away from Ripon Christian, they are a good team."
Captain Shaylynn Beam showed some of that fire on the court that her coach is expecting from her, and had 21 assists, 10 digs, two aces and three blocks in a monster night against RC. She was in double digit assists in the two previous games during the week as well. Other standouts in the RC contest were Cassidy Caton and Megan Faria with 13 kills each, libero Nicole Bianchi with 25 digs. Tuesday at Central Catholic, the varsity was a 25-19, 25-16, 25-12 winner, getting stronger as the evening wore on.
"We started slow in game one, I think it was first game jitters," said Williamson. "We played solid in games two and three."
Wednesday hosting Linden, it was a close contest but Escalon again took it in three, winning 25-20, 25-20, 25-17.
"Again, defense is what beat them," Williamson said of taking down the Lions. "They had some good hitters, but Shay, Nicole and Cassidy dug balls all night."
The week wrapped up with the intense match against RC.
"I'm definitely happy with how we're improving each match," Williamson said. "The girls are working hard in practice and I've really got a lot of confidence after the RC game, the girls are playing really solid."
