Downey outlasts Gregori in five-set CCAL volleyball opener
Volleyball in the Central California Athletic League is expected to be as competitive as ever, so it is only fitting the league opener between Downey and Gregori went to five sets.
Both teams are young, getting production from mostly freshmen, sophomores and juniors, but they are talented. Downey can win with power, counting on junior Izzy Watson and freshman Zaniyah Corneille, a pair of outside hitters who each recorded double-digit kills Thursday evening. Gregori relies on its quickness, hustling on its side of the net, refusing to let the ball hit the ground.
The very different playing styles collided Thursday on the first night of league play and provided a 25-12, 16-25, 25-15, 24-26, 15-12 thriller. After a successful nonleague schedule, Downey coach Tera Coleman was excited for the team to start league play with a win.
"For them, it's knowing that they can do it, because they are so young," Coleman said. "I haven't had conversations with them about what it takes to go to the playoffs, we've just been enjoying it point by point."
The Knights won the first and third sets, but after each Downey win, the Jaguars came back to take their own set. After dropping the first set, the Jaguars gained early control of the second and did not let up. Their 15-8 lead turned into a 22-14 advantage that forced a Downey timeout. After allowing a pair of points, the Jaguars finished the set with three straight points. Gregori's hustle helped it win a fourth set in which neither team gained more than a two-point advantage. After Downey took a 13-12 lead, the two sides produced six ties. After Downey tied the set at 24 apiece, Gregori took the final two points to tie the match at 2-2.
"We're a young team and they fight hard," Gregori coach Alex McDaniel said. "They're playing for each other right now and that's the biggest part. ... They're keeping to their assignments don't give up until the ball hits the floor. The biggest thing, especially in volleyball, is playing until the whistle. They play until the whistle every time."
Watson was the catalyst for the Knights' offense all night, starting the match strong and leading the team to a dominant 25-12 win. In the third set, she was responsible for nine of the Knights' final 10 points, recording eight kills and a block. Corneille made the most of her time in the front row as well, putting away the final points in the third and fifth sets to give the Knights wins.
"I think the whole team feels relaxed ... and that helps my setter feel comfortable," Coleman said of the Watson-Corneille tandem.
The Knights jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the fifth set but the Jaguars rebounded with five straight points. After tying the set at 6-6, Downey never trailed. The Knights outscored Gregori 5-2 late in the fifth set to secure the match win.
"I think we had moments, like the first set, that's us," Coleman said. "And then we have moments where we get really comfortable and laugh things off, and that's the youth."
The Knights won their 19th game Thursday, which is more than they have won in the past two seasons combined. They are well on their way to surpassing their best season in over 20 years, when they won 23 games in 2021. Their goal coming into the season was to do better than last year.
"Our goal is always to get back to the playoffs, get back to that playoff mindset," Coleman said. "Shifting that mindset was the first step."
Hilmar 3, Orestimba 0: Finley Rosa and Alyssa Colston led the Yellowjackets' offense with 16 and 14 kills, respectively, as they earned their fourth Trans-Valley League win, 25-12, 25-21, 25-23. Teygan Horstmeier finished with a team-high 26 digs, and Stella Pires led Hilmar with 40 assists. The Yellowjackets have won seven straight matches dating back to Aug. 31, winning 20 sets and dropping just two.
Big Valley Christian 3, Bret Harte 1: The Lions won their first Mother Lode League match this season, earning them their 14th overall victory with a 25-12, 18-25, 31-29, 25-14 four-set win. Big Valley Christian plays three games next week, facing MLL opponents Summerville on Sept. 24 and Riverbank on Sept. 26 on the road and hosting Sierra on Sept. 25.
Ripon 3, Ripon Christian 0: Ripon earned a hard-fought 25-18, 25-13, 25-16 sweep over its rival to open TVL play. Thursday's win was Ripon's sixth in a row. The win broke a string of three straight losses to the Knights.
Sonora 3, Hughson 2: Emily Yarbrough's 21 kills were not enough to get Hughson over the edge in the thrilling five-set match against visiting Sonora. The Wildcats took the 17-25, 25-21, 14-25, 27-25, 15-11 win, advancing to 3-1 in league play. Hughson falls to 1-3.
Sierra 3, Oakdale 0: Oakdale could not earn its first Valley Oak League win, falling in straight sets to the league's No. 2 team, 25-13, 26-24, 25-19. It faces VOL opponents Central Catholic and Manteca on the road next week.
Pitman 3, Turlock 1: Maryn Hall led the Pride with 22 kills as Pitman kicked off its CCAL schedule with a 23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-22 win over crosstown rival Turlock. Mia Ngo added 15 kills and four aces. Four teammates finished with 10-plus digs, led by junior Aila Reich's 19.
Flag Football
Hughson 46, Riverank 15: Junior quarterback Leah Hobby completed 20 of 31 passes for 221 yards and five touchdowns in the Huskies' dominant win over Riverbank. Presley Wells (60 yards receiving yards, 2 touchdowns), Grace Leedom (45 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Raegan Barstow (36 yards, 1 touchdown) each found the end zone.
