COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Having recorded 116 kills in wins over Willows, Hamilton City and Winters last week, the RedHawks are showing off one of the most potent attacks in the Northern Section and with the onset of conference play are proving they will be a formidable challenge for their Sacramento Valley League foes.
Starting off in Willows last Tuesday for its SVL opener, the RedHawks found themselves down two sets, but came all the way back to prevail 21-25, 24-26, 25-22, 26-24, 15-13.
Three hitters registered double figures in kills with Addison Lay accounting for 18, while sophomores Peyton Miller and Abby Coronado each finished with 13.
In facilitating the offense, Lay had one of her highest outputs thus far with 32 assists or 6.4 per set.
Defensively, Colusa got a herculean effort from libero Abril Guzman who had 34 digs and 48 service receptions in the back row, then also saw noteworthy contributions from Olivia Huskey who made 20 digs, Lay with 13 and Ava Garcia with a season-high 12 digs.
Returning to Don Bransford Gymnasium on Wednesday, the RedHawks had a much easier time with visiting Hamilton City as they dispatched the Braves 25-18, 25-8, 25-17.
Lay had a double-double with 11 kills and 11 assists, while McKenna Azbill recorded six kills and Cindel Oliver dished out eight assists.
Guzman had a team-high 12 digs with Lay adding nine more.
Ending the week in Winters on Sept. 12, Colusa found little resistance from the Warriors whom they breezed by 25-10, 25-12, 25-2-17 in its second SVL match.
Aliah Ramirez had the hot hand pounding down nine kills, with Azbill completing the match with nine.
Guzman and Miller had eight digs apiece in a match that didn’t put much pressure on the defense.
Having lost just three matches in 16 tries and off to a 2-0 start in conference play, Coach Kim Roper likes what she is seeing in her team’s performance as it continues to refine its play.
“We are definitely not afraid to adapt and make changes,” said Roper. We are very versatile, which makes those adjustments much easier. Our biggest step forward has been in our serve-receive, which will obviously be a key to our success.”
This week Colusa (13-3, 2-0) hosted its playoff nemesis University Prep in a non-conference match on Tuesday, entertained Pierce in an SVL showdown on Thursday ahead of venturing to Mill Valley to compete in the Tamalpais Tournament on Saturday.