Holtville drops season opener at West Shores

SALTON CITY — Showing patience and the edge that even one preseason game can give a team, the

West Shores High School Wildcats defeated the Holtville High Vikings in three straight games to win the match here Thursday afternoon.

West Shores was playing its second game of the 2016 season and its experience was evident as it took the first two games of the match 2518 and 25-17.

“I think having played a match was a huge difference today because my players seemed more relaxed and didn’t tire as fast as their first match,” said Wildcat coach Mark Ruiz, whose team lost to Rancho Mirage High last week.

For the Vikings, going on the road to the northern border of the Imperial Valley to open their season had them looking disoriented at times.

“We’ve got some kinks to work out but they stayed in the games and kept their spirits up and played hard,” said Allison Manes, whose next match is against Marantha Christian on Wednesday. “This will give us plenty to focus on in practice.”

In the first set, junior libero Jasmine Ponce was everywhere on the court for the Vikes on defense and was their main offensive weapon, hitting the ball from behind the 10-foot line.

“This is my first year at libero and it’s really fun getting to the be all over the court,” Ponce said. “I’m small so I can’t play the front row and I’d rather not have to rotate out but stay on the court so libero is great for me.”

Holtville put together a solid effort in the third game, leading early then coming back from 17-14 to tie the game before falling 27-25.

Viking junior Kenya Serrano felt that the match was a good starting point for a young Holtville team.

“I’ve been on varsity since my freshman year but this year the team is new and we’re trying to get everyone to play together,” Serrano said. “I think we play really good in practice and we need to bring that to the court.”

West Shores is in the throes of a rebuilding year but Ruiz, who graduated six seniors and has only one, Diana Campos, back this season.

Still the defending Southern Manzanita League champions appear to be reloading quickly behind Ruiz’s trademark defense and counterattack offense.

“We don’t have height and we practice blocking but we spend more time getting on the floor and digging up balls,” Ruiz said. “What we do discourages the hitters on the other side and opens up things for us.”