Williams 3 – CORE Butte 1 (9/22)
Williams 3 – Biggs 0 (9/24)
Coming off a nearly two-week layoff the Yellowjackets started Mid-Valley League play with two victories as they held off CORE Butte 25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 25-12 before cruising past Biggs 25-15, 25-20, 25-16.
While Yurydia Rocha had a team-high 10 kills, sophomore Aimee Velazquez had an impressive outing with nine kills, eight aces and 13 digs.
Middle hitter Evelin Iniguez also had a nice night recording seven kills and four blocks.
Setters Lupita Rivera and Jaqueline Esqueda distributed 11 and 10 assists respectively, while in the back row, Daisy Ruiz made 12 digs, with Esqueda and Dulce Duran accounting for 11 apiece.
Williams then followed up at home against the Wolverines behind nine kills from Velazquez, in conjunction with Rocha’s seven kills and six aces.
Esqueda notched a double-double handing out a team-high 12 assists to go along with 10 digs and Lesley Duran contributed 11 digs in the win.
Looking to build on their momentum, the ‘Jackets (9-7, 2-0) hosted Hamilton City on Sept. 29 before making the short trip to Maxwell on Oct. 1.
Pierce 3 – Paradise 1 (9/22)
Pierce 3 – East Nicolaus 2 (9/24)
With two Sacramento Valley League wins last week, Pierce moved into a tie for third place in the conference standings.
Starting off with a 25-15, 25-14, 23-25, 25-4 victory on the road in Paradise, the Bears finished with 40 kills as a team, led by Rylie Delepierre’s 13.
Charlotte Reyna, Lillian Neal and Presli Harris also pitched with six kills apiece, while Audrey Weber finished with 25 assists.
Defensively, Aileen Myers had a team-high 13 digs with Harris and Lyla Maldonado each logging nine.
Yet, the more impressive victory was the 25-17, 20-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12 triumph over East Nicolaus.
According to Coach Lauren Ornbaun it was one of her team’s more consistent performances, something the squad has been working on this season.
“We keep improving and I think taking that set off Colusa was the start,” Ornbaun said. “The result of the match shows us that we are continuing to get better.”
Delepierre threw down a career-high 25 kills in addition to serving seven aces, while Ornbaun also praised Audrey Weber for the way she ran the offense handing out 39 assists in addition to crediting Nayeli Lievanos for her consistent play in the middle where she contributed seven kills.
Five Bears registered double digit digs including Weber with 23, Leslye Velazquez with 20, Reyna with 17, Harris with 15 and Myers with 10.
Pierce (10-13, 3-2) was in Winters on Sept. 29 then returned home for a non-conference match against Woodland Christian the following evening.
Maxwell 3 – Biggs 1 (9/22)
Maxwell 0 – Hamilton City 3 (9/24)
Last week was an up and down one for the Panthers who escaped with a 25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23 road win in Biggs prior to losing at home to Hamilton City although no scores were available.
Serving proved to be the difference against the Wolverines as Maxwell served 25 aces as a team, with Reese Vierra and Jane Silva each recording six, while Peyton Hartill and Gia Rudiger had five apiece.
Rudiger directed the attack with 27 assists, Erin Dennis had a team-high eight kills, Vierra finished with seven kills and five blocks and Hartill pitched in with seven kills.
Next up for the Panthers was a match on Sept. 29 at home against a very tough Quincy squad ahead of a rivalry match with visiting Williams on Oct. 1.