Ceres High’s girls volleyball team remained in the hunt for a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth last week after winning one of its two Western Athletic Conference matches.

Central Valley displayed improvement while securing a split against WAC competition.

“We have a different mindset this season,” Bulldogs’ head coach Kelly Heese said. “The girls are showing up to practice and putting in the work. I took a step back. It doesn’t matter how much I want it (success). They have to want it.”

“They’re starting to unite and play together as a team,” she added.

Fourth-place Ceres High shut out fifth-place Pacheco 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 25-17) on Oct. 13 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

“My girls came ready to play,” said Heese, whose team avenged a 3-2 (14-25, 25-21, 27-25, 25, 23-25, 15-10) road loss. “They were on fire.”

Genesis Sio led the Bulldogs with 14 kills.

Bella Bravo added eight kills.

Ceres High had just four missed serves as a team.

The Bulldogs collected eight aces.

Ceres High put up a fight in losing 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 13-25, 25-22, 16-14) to second-place Grace Davis on Oct. 15 in Modesto.

“I have nothing negative to say about my girls,” Heese stated. “They showed heart.”

The Bulldogs lost 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 20-25, 25-15) to the Spartans on Sept. 22 in Ceres.

Ceres High could have won the rematch.

“It was a great match,” Heese said. “It was back and forth. I made a few changes to my rotation. I also made some adjustments that took away their middle.”

Down by six points in the fifth-and-decisive set, the Bulldogs evened the score at 9-9 thanks to Kamaea Brown’s serving.

Ceres High teammate Gisele Arriola competed with a rolled ankle during the latter part of the match.

“She went out for one rotation and came back in,” Heese said. “She’s a team player.”

Central Valley snapped a six-match losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Johansen on Oct. 15 in Ceres.

The Hawks edged the Vikings 3-2 during the first half of the WAC season.

Central Valley improved to 4-18 overall and 2-10 in the league standings.

The Hawks lost 3-1 to the host Livingston Wolves on Oct. 13.

Central Valley failed to win a set during the first meeting.

The Hawks suffered a 3-0 loss.