Central Valley’s girls volleyball program hasn’t had much success against Ceres High since 2018. Losers of nine of the last 10 crosstown meetings, the Hawks ended a three-game skid versus the Bulldogs with a 3-1 victory on Senior Night on Oct. 21.
“As a team, we were really excited to get another chance to play Ceres and prove what we could do,” Central Valley senior captain Sofia Garibay said. “Losing to a rival makes you want to work even harder, so we came into the game knowing what we needed to do to win. Getting the win felt great because we knew how much effort we put into preparing for that rematch.”
“I’m proud of my girls regardless of the outcome,” Ceres High head coach Nayeli Ramos said. “Obviously losing to our crosstown rival is never easy, especially in a game we really wanted to win. I think we had moments where we played really good volleyball, but toward the end, we kind of lost that fight and confidence we needed to keep pushing. It’s tough because I know what these girls are capable of, and I wish we could’ve finished stronger.”
Central Valley posted a 9-17 overall record and placed sixth in the Western Athletic Conference with a 6-8 mark this year.
Ceres High amassed an 8-16 overall record and finished seventh in the league standings (5-10).
The Hawks won just two matches while taking seventh in the WAC in 2025.
“I am really proud of how much our team has grown throughout the season,” Garibay said. “We have improved our communication, teamwork, and confidence on the court. We have learned how to overcome challenges, support each other, and keep fighting even when games get difficult. Our relationships developed from being teammates to being one family. As captain, seeing everyone improve and come together as a team has been one of the best parts of the season.”
“This was my first year as a head coach, so I learned a lot throughout the season, and I know there are things I can continue to improve on as well,” Ramos said. “I’m proud of how far we’ve come, and I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned this year and apply it next season. I know we have room to grow, and I’m looking forward to getting back in the gym and continuing to build this group.”
Central Valley elevated its level of play during the rematch.
“We focused more on communication, staying consistent, and trusting each other on the court,” Garibay said. “We worked on fixing the mistakes we made in the first game and making sure we stayed aggressive. As captain, I reminded my teammates to stay positive, keep pushing, learn from our mistakes, and play together as a team.”
“Honestly, I think it came down to staying mentally in it,” Ramos said. “Once things started going the other way, we struggled to get ourselves back, and volleyball is a game where things can change so quickly. We just needed to keep fighting, trust each other, and take it one point at a time instead of letting the moment get to us. That’s somethings we’ll definitely work on moving forward.”
The Hawks compiled a 1-1 record versus the Bulldogs this fall.
Central Valley lost the first meeting, 3-1, to Ceres High on Sept. 28 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
The Hawks exacted revenge against the Bulldogs during the rematch.
“Everyone was locked in and gave it their all,” Garibay said. “We knew how important this game was, and nobody wanted give up and let Ceres beat us on Senior Night. Even when things were uncertain, we encouraged each other and stayed focused on our goal. I was very proud of the effort and determination everyone showed on and off the court.”
Four Hawk senior players were recognized before their final home match, including Garibay, Camila Gonzalez, Reylena Herrera and Kassandra Torres.
The Bulldogs will also lose four players to graduation: Emilia Derrick, Riley Gaskill, Priya Martinez and Vinique Paulerena.
“It will be tough to replace them,” Central Valley head coach Courtney Dayhoff said. “Garibay and Torres were powerful outside hitters for us. Garibay and Herrera are such strong leaders on and off the court that someone will need to step up for next year.”
Central Valley and Ceres High will continue to battle for bragging rights in the future.
The Bulldogs have compiled a 9-2 head-to-head record against the Hawks since 2018.
Central Valley won 15 of 16 matches versus Ceres High from 2011-2017.
The Bulldogs ended losing streaks of six and 12 matches in 2024 and 2016, respectively, during the crosstown series.
“The rivalry is definitely competitive and there is always extra excitement when we play Ceres,” Garibay said. “The gym is louder, the energy is different, and everyone wants to see their team come out on top. It makes the game more intense, but it also makes winning that much more rewarding.”
“There’s definitely a different energy when we play CV,” Ramos said. “The girls get really excited for these games, and you can feel the energy from both teams and everyone in the gym. These matchups are always competitive, and it’s fun to see the girls get out there and compete.”
