Playing a solid all-around game, the Escalon varsity Lady Cougars defeated host Hughson in three, 25-10, 25-15, 25-12, in volleyball action Tuesday, Sept. 25.
"I felt like the girls kept their composure, they played some solid volleyball," coach Teresa Williamson said, adding that they played at a high level, despite not being seriously challenged by their opponent.
Cassidy Caton had 12 kills, Nicole Bianchi added 17 assists and Adalia Cajias had four aces. Taylor Laugero notched 11 digs, with one block each from Sam Shipley and Bianchi.
"We faced Hilmar on Thursday and both were undefeated in league going in," Williamson said of the showdown with the visiting Yellowjackets.
Some early jitters saw the host squad fall 23-25 in the first game, but they righted the ship from then on.
"I felt we had a pretty solid game plan, the girls did not make a lot of errors," Williamson said.
Escalon came back to win the match by taking the next three, 25-21, 25-21, 25-19.
"Nicole had 19 assists, Cassidy had 17 kills and both Nicole and Adalia had three blocks," the coach noted of standout efforts. "Sam Shipley had four aces for us and Taylor had 22 digs."
Williamson said the team is starting to find the formula that works.
"We're a very good serving team, we can place balls well and Sam seems to be getting stronger (on serves)," said Williamson. "I think the girls hit positions very well."
Escalon was slated to close out the first half of the league campaign at Modesto Christian on Tuesday, after The Times went to press. The program has a bye on Thursday, with the JV and varsity back in action Tuesday, Oct. 9 at Riverbank to open second half play.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Taking down Hughson in two, the JV girls battled Hilmar later in the week and also defeated them to go 2-0.
"Against Hughson we won 25-12, 25-17," said coach Stephanie Williamson. "The first game was easy, the second was a tad tougher, they had a middle that was really good but we adjusted pretty well."
Kylee Irwin-Paz had seven aces, while Maddie Nicholas had nine kills and six digs.
Thursday, home for Hilmar, the JV girls won the opener 25-23, lost a tough 26-28 middle game and then came back with a 15-11 win to take the match, two games to one.
"We were the only two TVL teams still undefeated going in," said Williamson, with the Lady Cougars keeping that streak intact.
They had to adjust to a left-handed middle on the opposite side of the net and outstanding efforts on the night came from Mekenna Eisenga, 20 assists, two aces and six digs, and Savannah Guerra, with 12 digs and two aces.
FRESHMEN
At Hughson on Tuesday, it was a 25-18, 25-19 win for the frosh Lady Cougars. Jenna Solari was the pacesetter with five aces and had 13 serves in a row to set the tone. Allison Rigg also got high praise for her solid defense, with seven attacks and four kills.
"Laura Brasil played libero, which she loves, and had a great game and Sarah Leal also had a nice block," said coach Krystal Rodriguez.
Thursday the girls were home to host Hilmar.
"That was supposed to be a tough game but the girls are really starting to click," said Rodriguez, noting that her squad put away the Yellowjackets 25-18, 25-13.
"Sarah Leal was my top server, she had three aces in a row and we've been working on her serve, she did really well," said Rodriguez. "Reily Rocha (middle blocker) and Brooke Borba (middle back) also showed great improvement and the whole squad, over the past month and a half, has just improved so much."
"I felt like the girls kept their composure, they played some solid volleyball," coach Teresa Williamson said, adding that they played at a high level, despite not being seriously challenged by their opponent.
Cassidy Caton had 12 kills, Nicole Bianchi added 17 assists and Adalia Cajias had four aces. Taylor Laugero notched 11 digs, with one block each from Sam Shipley and Bianchi.
"We faced Hilmar on Thursday and both were undefeated in league going in," Williamson said of the showdown with the visiting Yellowjackets.
Some early jitters saw the host squad fall 23-25 in the first game, but they righted the ship from then on.
"I felt we had a pretty solid game plan, the girls did not make a lot of errors," Williamson said.
Escalon came back to win the match by taking the next three, 25-21, 25-21, 25-19.
"Nicole had 19 assists, Cassidy had 17 kills and both Nicole and Adalia had three blocks," the coach noted of standout efforts. "Sam Shipley had four aces for us and Taylor had 22 digs."
Williamson said the team is starting to find the formula that works.
"We're a very good serving team, we can place balls well and Sam seems to be getting stronger (on serves)," said Williamson. "I think the girls hit positions very well."
Escalon was slated to close out the first half of the league campaign at Modesto Christian on Tuesday, after The Times went to press. The program has a bye on Thursday, with the JV and varsity back in action Tuesday, Oct. 9 at Riverbank to open second half play.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Taking down Hughson in two, the JV girls battled Hilmar later in the week and also defeated them to go 2-0.
"Against Hughson we won 25-12, 25-17," said coach Stephanie Williamson. "The first game was easy, the second was a tad tougher, they had a middle that was really good but we adjusted pretty well."
Kylee Irwin-Paz had seven aces, while Maddie Nicholas had nine kills and six digs.
Thursday, home for Hilmar, the JV girls won the opener 25-23, lost a tough 26-28 middle game and then came back with a 15-11 win to take the match, two games to one.
"We were the only two TVL teams still undefeated going in," said Williamson, with the Lady Cougars keeping that streak intact.
They had to adjust to a left-handed middle on the opposite side of the net and outstanding efforts on the night came from Mekenna Eisenga, 20 assists, two aces and six digs, and Savannah Guerra, with 12 digs and two aces.
FRESHMEN
At Hughson on Tuesday, it was a 25-18, 25-19 win for the frosh Lady Cougars. Jenna Solari was the pacesetter with five aces and had 13 serves in a row to set the tone. Allison Rigg also got high praise for her solid defense, with seven attacks and four kills.
"Laura Brasil played libero, which she loves, and had a great game and Sarah Leal also had a nice block," said coach Krystal Rodriguez.
Thursday the girls were home to host Hilmar.
"That was supposed to be a tough game but the girls are really starting to click," said Rodriguez, noting that her squad put away the Yellowjackets 25-18, 25-13.
"Sarah Leal was my top server, she had three aces in a row and we've been working on her serve, she did really well," said Rodriguez. "Reily Rocha (middle blocker) and Brooke Borba (middle back) also showed great improvement and the whole squad, over the past month and a half, has just improved so much."
