Energized by its home crowd, Central Valley High School's varsity volleyball team earned its first league win of the 2012 season this past week.
The Hawks struggled early before beating crosstown-rival Ceres High 25-20, 25-18, 25-16 on Wednesday at CV.
"I have no complaints," Central Valley head coach Margo Arzola said. "The difference was confidence. We stayed focused and positive."
The Hawks improved to 1-4 in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Bulldogs fell to 1-5 in league play.
Ceres High lost via tiebreaker to Livingston and Patterson earlier this year.
"We could be in third place," Arzola said.
Central Valley improved its all-time record versus Ceres High to 4-9.
The Hawks have won the last three meetings.
Malynda Lomeli collected eight assists, three aces and one kill against Ceres High this past week.
Hawk teammates Mia Lorenzo (five kills, three digs, two blocks and two aces), Lynaya Lerma (five blocks, two kills and one ace), Nicholette Mendez (three assists and two aces), Jessica Martinez (two blocks, one kill and one assist), Leah Faamati (two blocks) and Casey McCloskey (two blocks) stepped up as well.
Diana Salgado paced the Bulldogs with 12 digs and two aces.
Yvonne Verduzco had seven digs.
Kassi Ruiz collected six digs, three assists and two aces.
Jasmine Magana tallied two kills and two aces.
Arianna Mata added two kills.
"We brought our A game," Arzola said. "We were scrappy."
Ceres High never recovered after dropping the first set, 25-20.
Central Valley erased a six-point deficit.
"We stayed positive the entire time and worked together as a team," Hawk junior Lexy Cordova said.
The Bulldogs never posed a threat during the second and third sets.
Central Valley's lead ballooned to 13-3 in Game 2 and 20-10 in Game 3.
Mendez accounted for the Hawks' match-clinching point. Ceres High failed to return her serve.
Hawk fans, including Central Valley football and soccer players, rooted from the stands.
"It felt amazing," Cordova said. "They've been talking about it (watching us play) since Monday. They really wanted us to win."
"I teach here so I love seeing the school spirit," Arzola said.
The Hawks struggled early before beating crosstown-rival Ceres High 25-20, 25-18, 25-16 on Wednesday at CV.
"I have no complaints," Central Valley head coach Margo Arzola said. "The difference was confidence. We stayed focused and positive."
The Hawks improved to 1-4 in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Bulldogs fell to 1-5 in league play.
Ceres High lost via tiebreaker to Livingston and Patterson earlier this year.
"We could be in third place," Arzola said.
Central Valley improved its all-time record versus Ceres High to 4-9.
The Hawks have won the last three meetings.
Malynda Lomeli collected eight assists, three aces and one kill against Ceres High this past week.
Hawk teammates Mia Lorenzo (five kills, three digs, two blocks and two aces), Lynaya Lerma (five blocks, two kills and one ace), Nicholette Mendez (three assists and two aces), Jessica Martinez (two blocks, one kill and one assist), Leah Faamati (two blocks) and Casey McCloskey (two blocks) stepped up as well.
Diana Salgado paced the Bulldogs with 12 digs and two aces.
Yvonne Verduzco had seven digs.
Kassi Ruiz collected six digs, three assists and two aces.
Jasmine Magana tallied two kills and two aces.
Arianna Mata added two kills.
"We brought our A game," Arzola said. "We were scrappy."
Ceres High never recovered after dropping the first set, 25-20.
Central Valley erased a six-point deficit.
"We stayed positive the entire time and worked together as a team," Hawk junior Lexy Cordova said.
The Bulldogs never posed a threat during the second and third sets.
Central Valley's lead ballooned to 13-3 in Game 2 and 20-10 in Game 3.
Mendez accounted for the Hawks' match-clinching point. Ceres High failed to return her serve.
Hawk fans, including Central Valley football and soccer players, rooted from the stands.
"It felt amazing," Cordova said. "They've been talking about it (watching us play) since Monday. They really wanted us to win."
"I teach here so I love seeing the school spirit," Arzola said.
