Central Valley High School's varsity volleyball team expended every last bit of energy to claim a thrilling five-game victory over Grace Davis in a non-air conditioned gym Thursday night in Modesto.
The Hawks and Spartans battled for close to two hours.
"We earned it," Central Valley junior standout Alyssa Long said. "They didn't give it to us."
Long tallied three blocks for the Hawks.
Vicky Ochoa had 10 assists, six digs and five aces.
Alyssa Meshach added six kills.
Stephanie Crist led the Spartans with eight kills and five blocks.
Breanna Leulua accumulated eight assists and collected three aces.
Laurie Chavez contributed nine digs.
Central Valley won the first two games of the non-league season opener by 26-24 and 25-9 scores.
Long accounted for three of her team's final four points in the first game. She had a block, kill and ace serve.
In the second game, the Hawks reeled off seven straight points with Long serving. She helped Central Valley extend its lead from 17-8 to 24-9.
The Spartans rallied back to take the third (25-18) and fourth (25-17) games.
Central Valley stormed out to an 11-3 lead and held on for a 15-11 win in the decisive game. Gigi Sahota secured the victory with a kill.
"We should have had it by the third game," Long said. "Our momentum was definitely lost. I don't know if we got big-headed."
Bulldogs take third
Ceres High School's varsity volleyball team opened the 2009 season with a third-place finish at the Johansen tournament on Saturday.
"It's definitely a confidence booster," head coach Stephanie Hamilton said.
The Bulldogs dropped their first game before stringing together three wins.
Ceres High defeated Johansen, Denair and Patterson by identical 2-0 scores.
The Bulldogs suffered their lone loss, a 2-0 setback to Enochs in the opening round.
"The girls worked great together," Hamilton said. "They just need to work on the communication a little more."
Jamie Beck, a 6-foot-2 junior, and senior Alyssa Eudy were major contributors.
"Jamie was a blocking and hitting machine," Hamilton said. "Alyssa had a great all-round tournament."
Ceres High scored nine straight points when Eudy served against Denair.
The Hawks and Spartans battled for close to two hours.
"We earned it," Central Valley junior standout Alyssa Long said. "They didn't give it to us."
Long tallied three blocks for the Hawks.
Vicky Ochoa had 10 assists, six digs and five aces.
Alyssa Meshach added six kills.
Stephanie Crist led the Spartans with eight kills and five blocks.
Breanna Leulua accumulated eight assists and collected three aces.
Laurie Chavez contributed nine digs.
Central Valley won the first two games of the non-league season opener by 26-24 and 25-9 scores.
Long accounted for three of her team's final four points in the first game. She had a block, kill and ace serve.
In the second game, the Hawks reeled off seven straight points with Long serving. She helped Central Valley extend its lead from 17-8 to 24-9.
The Spartans rallied back to take the third (25-18) and fourth (25-17) games.
Central Valley stormed out to an 11-3 lead and held on for a 15-11 win in the decisive game. Gigi Sahota secured the victory with a kill.
"We should have had it by the third game," Long said. "Our momentum was definitely lost. I don't know if we got big-headed."
Bulldogs take third
Ceres High School's varsity volleyball team opened the 2009 season with a third-place finish at the Johansen tournament on Saturday.
"It's definitely a confidence booster," head coach Stephanie Hamilton said.
The Bulldogs dropped their first game before stringing together three wins.
Ceres High defeated Johansen, Denair and Patterson by identical 2-0 scores.
The Bulldogs suffered their lone loss, a 2-0 setback to Enochs in the opening round.
"The girls worked great together," Hamilton said. "They just need to work on the communication a little more."
Jamie Beck, a 6-foot-2 junior, and senior Alyssa Eudy were major contributors.
"Jamie was a blocking and hitting machine," Hamilton said. "Alyssa had a great all-round tournament."
Ceres High scored nine straight points when Eudy served against Denair.
