After having to forego their season last year due to COVID, the Colusa RedHawk volleyball team has come back with a vengeance to capture the 2021 Sacramento Valley League championship, after going unbeaten in conference play.
To complete their undefeated regular season, the RedHawks cruised to straight set wins over Pierce and Durham last week.
In a rivalry match at home against the Bears on Oct. 19, Colusa subdued the Bears by scores of 25-16, 25-12, 25-16.
While Pierce did show some spunk, they simply could not compete with the RedHawks who out hit the young Bears and covered well defensively.
Reese Roper led Colusa with 13 kills while Leah Ferrara and Karsyn Gwinnup accounted for eight kills apiece.
Setter Abby Myers recorded a double-double, handing out 39 assists in addition to making 12 digs, while libero Anahi Guzman recorded a team-high 13 digs.
For Pierce, top performers included Jocelyn Medina and Cindy Corona, who each tallied four kills, along with Macey Myers who turned in a game-high 15 digs, and Jaylianna Valencia pitching in with 10 more.
After clinching the title outright, Colusa traveled to Durham on Oct. 21 where they dispatched the Trojans 25-8, 25-17, 25-16.
Roper powered the RedHawks, hitting at a .520 clip and hammering 15 kills, with Gwinnup not far behind at .438 and 10 kills, thanks in part to Myers, who dished out 28 assists in the match.
Defensively, Guzman made 10 digs, while Gwinnup and Myers each recorded seven.
Northern Section CIF Division IV playoff volleyball commenced on Oct. 26 when No. 2 Colusa (30-7) hosted No. 7 Paradise (6-12), and No. 4 Pierce (12-17) squared off against No. 5 Williams (13-1) in Arbuckle.
Second round matches will be held Nov. 2, with the championship occurring on Nov. 6 at Red Bluff High School. ■