Ceres High School’s varsity girls volleyball program had a special guest attend its final match of the season.
Former Bulldogs’ leader Darlene Tobler recognized Bella Curry, Vianney Perez and Mia Robinson on Senior Night last week at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
“I asked her if she wanted to speak on their behalf,” said Kelly Heese, Ceres High’s new head coach. “Those were her players.”
Curry, Perez, Robinson and the Bulldogs closed out the 2019 campaign with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18) home loss to the Grace Davis Spartans in Western Athletic Conference on Oct. 22.
" The guidance and inspiration they brought to the court is going to be missed."Coach Kelly Heese
“Nobody likes to see their players go,” Heese said. “It’s part of the process. The guidance and inspiration they brought to the court is going to be missed. Bella by far is one player I really believe did a complete turnaround from where she was at. Olie (Vianney) became a solid libero. Mia was a very versatile player.”
Ceres High compiled a 3-19 overall record and finished in seventh place in the WAC standings (2-12).
Grace Davis (8-8, 7-7) took fourth in the conference standings.
The Bulldogs beat the last-place Pacheco Tigers (0-14) twice.
“The effort was there,” Heese said. “They worked hard at practice. They wanted to win. We never figured out how to get over the hump. We struggled with consistency.”
Perez tallied 20 digs and one ace versus Grace Davis.
Curry had 14 digs, seven kills, two assists, two blocks and one ace.
Robinson had six kills, five digs and two blocks.
Allison Stiles had 23 assists, six digs, two kills and one ace.
Jasmine Arendt had 11 digs, four kills and two aces.
Cheralyn Durossette and Lysaida Munoz each had seven kills.
Rayana Coleman had five kills and two blocks.
Bethanie Thornberry had four kills and four digs.
Dominique Arendt had two kills.
Ceres High put up a fight in losing 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 17-25, 26-24) at third-place Mountain House on Oct. 17.
The Bulldogs squandered a seven-point lead in the second game.
“We were neck and neck with them,” Heese said. “It was competitive.”
Ceres High could return as many as nine players from this year’s team next season, including Stiles, Durossette, Munoz, Coleman, Thornberry, Jasmine Arendt, Dominique Arendt, Catryna Marquez and Alizae Vargas.
Heese will also add talent from the junior-varsity team to the Bulldogs’ 2020 roster.
“I do feel very confident moving forward,” Heese said. “We should be contenders.”
