WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – After suffering two preseason losses to Maxwell, the Williams volleyball team turned the tables in the Mid-Valley League opener for the two squads as they outlasted the visiting Panthers 25-19, 19-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-13 to claim the victory.
It has been a roller coaster of a season for the young ‘Jacket squad and last Tuesday night was no exception when after playing perhaps their best set so far against Maxwell, they stumbled in the second and again in the third before finally capitalizing on a rotation error by the Panthers in the fifth set to put the match away.
Another play late in the final set that also had a significant impact in the ‘Jackets’ triumph was when Andrea Velazquez made a one-handed diving save to keep the ball in play and allow the Yellowjackets to claim the point.
It was an effort that Coach Darren Robinson believes was the key juncture in the match.
“Andrea punching that ball back over her shoulder to Gisele (Navarro), who knocked it over for the point was pretty incredible,” Robinson said. “If she doesn’t make that play, we don’t complete the comeback.”
Compared to the previous matches, one major difference was the way the ‘Jackets were able to contain the Panther attack, this time winning the kill battle 32-21.
Leading the way was Lupita Zuniga, who finished with 12 kills, four blocks and nine aces, Yurydia Rocha with 12 kills and 16 digs in addition to Ariana Paiz, who handed out 27 assists and had 21 digs.
Williams also played well in the back row, with Navarro accounting for a team-high 22 digs, Daisy Ruiz making 20 and Caitlyn Ruiz contributing 17.
For the Panthers, libero Allie Wills turned in a valiant effort making a game-high 36 digs, while Lyla Barrett and Erin Dennis pitched in with 13 and 10 respectively.
Fatima Cano had a team-high seven kills, while Dennis finished with six.
Two days after their win over the Panthers, the Yellowjackets swept visiting Portola 25-9, 25-14, 25-18 behind the combination of Zuniga and Caitlyn Ruiz who subsequently unloaded for 11 and eight kills.
It was also a good night for Paiz, who handed out 17 assists and made 10 digs and was praised by Robinson for her pinpoint serving which resulted in eight aces.
Daisy Ruiz finished with a team-high 17 digs with Navarro tallying 16 and Velazquez making 13.
Meanwhile, Maxwell made the trip to Quincy on Sept. 19, where it fell to the Trojans 19-25, 19-25, 23-25.
Statistics from the match were not made available.
This week Williams (10-10, 2-0) was on the road in Quincy then Hamilton City, while Maxwell (11-10, 0-2) looked to right the ship in Hamilton City on Sept. 24 and Biggs on Sept. 26.