`Putting together an overall mark of 24-8, taking second place in Trans-Valley League play and making it all the way to the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs, it was a hugely successful year for Escalon's varsity Lady Cougars on the volleyball court.
The run came to an end on the road, when they traveled to Golden Sierra for a Nov. 16 contest. They battled but fell in a 3-1 final, taking game two of the four-game set.
Final scores were 15-25, 26-24, 16-25, 16-25.
"I really think they (Golden Sierra) just capitalized on our errors," said coach Teresa Williamson. "The girls were really uptight. They wanted it, but their nerves got them."
Escalon went in as the three seed, host Golden Sierra was number two, requiring the Lady Cougars to take the long road trip.
Freshman Cassidy Caton had 12 kills in the contest, while Williamson also pointed to a solid game setting and serving from junior Shay Beam and good work on the floor by sophomore Nicole Bianchi.
"Every time we would get a good run, we would follow that up with errors," said Williamson, noting that the girls had trouble sustaining their point-scoring streaks.
Ripon defeated Bear River in the other semifinal contest on Tuesday, Nov. 16, then went on to sweep to victory over Golden Sierra in the D IV final at UC Davis on Thursday, Nov. 18.
Williamson admitted that a loss is always a hard way to end a season, especially with it being the final game for her seniors, but she had nothing but praise for the team and the season they put together.
"The girls did some amazing things this year," she said. "We are not disappointed in the season at all."
Going 10-2 in TVL play, as well as putting 24 wins on the books is a record most teams would love to have. Williamson is also is looking forward to a strong team next season, with key players like Beam, Bianchi and Caton there to provide a strong base along with a talented group of JV girls moving up.
Ripon, which went undefeated in league, will likely again be the team to beat, said Williamson.
"We're going to work hard to get Ripon," she said.
The run came to an end on the road, when they traveled to Golden Sierra for a Nov. 16 contest. They battled but fell in a 3-1 final, taking game two of the four-game set.
Final scores were 15-25, 26-24, 16-25, 16-25.
"I really think they (Golden Sierra) just capitalized on our errors," said coach Teresa Williamson. "The girls were really uptight. They wanted it, but their nerves got them."
Escalon went in as the three seed, host Golden Sierra was number two, requiring the Lady Cougars to take the long road trip.
Freshman Cassidy Caton had 12 kills in the contest, while Williamson also pointed to a solid game setting and serving from junior Shay Beam and good work on the floor by sophomore Nicole Bianchi.
"Every time we would get a good run, we would follow that up with errors," said Williamson, noting that the girls had trouble sustaining their point-scoring streaks.
Ripon defeated Bear River in the other semifinal contest on Tuesday, Nov. 16, then went on to sweep to victory over Golden Sierra in the D IV final at UC Davis on Thursday, Nov. 18.
Williamson admitted that a loss is always a hard way to end a season, especially with it being the final game for her seniors, but she had nothing but praise for the team and the season they put together.
"The girls did some amazing things this year," she said. "We are not disappointed in the season at all."
Going 10-2 in TVL play, as well as putting 24 wins on the books is a record most teams would love to have. Williamson is also is looking forward to a strong team next season, with key players like Beam, Bianchi and Caton there to provide a strong base along with a talented group of JV girls moving up.
Ripon, which went undefeated in league, will likely again be the team to beat, said Williamson.
"We're going to work hard to get Ripon," she said.
