Ceres High School's varsity volleyball program lost eight players to graduation, including starters Jode Johnson, Kaela Causey, Leah Rose, Amy Raymond and Alyssa Eudy.
The new-look Bulldogs opened the 2010 season with back-to-back wins last week.
"I'm not really surprised," head coach Stephanie Hamilton said. "I have some girls that came back with experience. They've improved a lot."
Ceres High swept Johansen, 25-14, 25-12, 25-16, on Wednesday at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Jamie Beck led the Bulldogs with nine kills, eight aces, four digs and two blocks.
Sherhea Hamilton, Sabrina Rinsamout and Meagan Humphres, three reserves on last year's team, and 2009 frosh-soph player Jessica Ellsworth also contributed.
Sherhea tallied four digs, three kills and three aces.
Sabrina had 12 digs.
Jessica collected seven assists and two aces.
Ceres High shut out Weston Ranch, 25-12, 25-19, 25-23, on Monday, Aug. 30 in Stockton.
Beck had 17 kills, three aces and two blocks.
Ellsworth (18 assists, four digs), Rinsamout (nine digs, four kills) and Hamilton (seven aces, three kills) chipped in as well.
Coach Hamilton couldn't have asked for a better start to the season.
"We have a pretty well-rounded team," she said. "They work hard at practice. We still have some things we need to work on like serve receive and serving. We want to get more consistent."
Ceres High amassed a 21-13 overall record, qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2004 and finished in fourth place in the Valley Oak League (9-7) last fall. The Bulldogs' last winning season was in 1998.
The new-look Bulldogs opened the 2010 season with back-to-back wins last week.
"I'm not really surprised," head coach Stephanie Hamilton said. "I have some girls that came back with experience. They've improved a lot."
Ceres High swept Johansen, 25-14, 25-12, 25-16, on Wednesday at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Jamie Beck led the Bulldogs with nine kills, eight aces, four digs and two blocks.
Sherhea Hamilton, Sabrina Rinsamout and Meagan Humphres, three reserves on last year's team, and 2009 frosh-soph player Jessica Ellsworth also contributed.
Sherhea tallied four digs, three kills and three aces.
Sabrina had 12 digs.
Jessica collected seven assists and two aces.
Ceres High shut out Weston Ranch, 25-12, 25-19, 25-23, on Monday, Aug. 30 in Stockton.
Beck had 17 kills, three aces and two blocks.
Ellsworth (18 assists, four digs), Rinsamout (nine digs, four kills) and Hamilton (seven aces, three kills) chipped in as well.
Coach Hamilton couldn't have asked for a better start to the season.
"We have a pretty well-rounded team," she said. "They work hard at practice. We still have some things we need to work on like serve receive and serving. We want to get more consistent."
Ceres High amassed a 21-13 overall record, qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2004 and finished in fourth place in the Valley Oak League (9-7) last fall. The Bulldogs' last winning season was in 1998.
