No longer in the same league due to the Sac-Joaquin Section’s conference realignment plan, Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s varsity girls volleyball teams continued their rivalry this past week by facing off in non-conference play. 

The Bulldogs outlasted the Hawks 3-2 (28-26, 25-19, 11-25, 19-25, 16-14) on Sept. 12 at Central Valley.

“It was very intense because both teams wanted to win just as bad,” Ceres High standout Alyssa Stiles said. “Both teams played really well. Both teams fought to the finish.”

Stiles had 18 digs, 13 kills, three blocks, three aces and one assist.

Younger sister Allison Stiles led Ceres High with 21 digs, 17 assists and three aces.

Junior Bella Curry had 19 digs, four aces, one kill and one assist.

Vianney Perez had 18 digs, four aces and one kill.

Sophomore Cheralyn Durossette had nine aces, seven digs and five kills.

Mya Robinson had seven digs, one kill, one ace and one assist.

Jullissa Arreola had six digs and one kill.

Isabel Diazdeleon had five digs and one kill.

Sophomore Lysaida Munoz had four digs, three kills, two aces and one assist.

Bella filled in for Allison at the end of the match.

Allison was relegated to the bench after hitting her chin on the court during the fourth game.

“The energy was still the same,” Alyssa said. “We all had to adjust to who our setter was. Bella did really well. She was able to step up.”

Central Valley battled back from a two-games-to-none deficit.

The Bulldogs won the fifth-and-decisive game by just two points.

“We figured out things as a team,” Alyssa said. “We just needed to refocus. As long as we have the right mindset, we can push through anything.”

Ceres High improved its all-time record versus Central Valley to 11-16.

The Bulldogs lost three times to the Hawks in Western Athletic Conference play a year ago.

Ceres High snapped a three-match losing streak versus Central Valley last week.

“It was a team goal and we reached it,” Alyssa said.