It’s the day that coaches and players wait for around this area – it’s the first official game of the season in the East Yosemite League.
Cross-town rivals, the division two Monache High School Marauders (2-6, 1-0 EYL) rocked the division three Granite Hills High School (11-7-1, 0-1 EYL) Grizzlies, in central valley’s little town of Porterville, California. And although the Lady Grizzlies managed to play tough defense for most of the night and win the third match, the Lady Marauders simply finished off Monday, Sept. 21, with a win to go on their record.
Three year varsity setter Jennifer Landers for Granite Hills.
Photo by Marissa Martinez
Despite Granite’s defense the first match of the night was claimed victoriously by the Lady Marauders. Lady Marauders Dylan Parker, Andri Rollans, Madison Lawley, Heather Balang and Alli Clem all picked up at least 10 kills a piece to end the night. However, the Lady Marauders are still not ranked within the state.
The second match proved to belong to Monache as well, 25-22. But, Lady Grizzlies Vanessa Alcantar and Jennifer Landers moved the ball around the court and managed to give the Lady Marauders a run for their money.
And with the help of back row players Deanna Alamillo and Zoe Kisling the Lady Grizzlies inched their way to catch up to their rivals in the second match.
The Lady Grizzlies still came up three points too short.
“We almost had it in that second game,” Alcantar said. “I think if we would have won then the whole game would have been different.”
Yet the tables turned in favor of the Lady Grizzlies just in time.
The girls took a 15-7 lead early in the third match and found the Lady Marauders struggling to pick up the pieces from their errors.
Fechner took charge of the net with three blocks and helped guide her team in the right direction from the first point to the last. Senior Ashlyn Lopez stepped up to the court and from there Lopez found herself being challenged against Monache’s killer double block at the net. Regardless, Lopez went around the double block and shot a hard ball in between the 10 footling and the back row.
A perfect kill put away.
Passing, setting, and hitting finally began to come together for the Lady Grizzlies as they rocked their rivals, 25-13.
Seniors Alcantar hammered three kills and Natalie Congdon put away five altogether.
However, the dream ended for the Lady Grizzlies just as quickly as it started.
Granite Hills subs watch the second match of the game.
Photo by Marissa Martinez
Monache’s setter Bethany Reed sprung to life as she constantly raced all around the court making perfect middle and outside sets to her teammates. The Lady Marauders played a tight defense and worked every angle when it came to hitting in the front row.
This was the perfect recipe for victory.
The Lady Marauders claimed the fourth and final game, 25-11.
Despite the loss, the Lady Grizzlies didn’t hang their heads for long. The girls placed second in the Strathmore Tournament during the week of Monday, Sept. 14, to Saturday, Sept. 19. In addition six foot player Emily Fechner and setter Jennifer Landers received All-Tournament Honors along with two other players from McFarland High School, which is a division four school in central California.
“I just really wanted to win and prove to them [Monache] that we are actually a good team,” Landers said. “Now we know a little more about their team and hopefully we will be ready for them next time.”
