Bulldogs hold off Tigers
ALEXICO — The volleyball teams from Calexico and Imperial met in a tight Imperial Valley League battle here Thursday night, with the host Bulldogs holding off the Tigers and earning the victory in four games - 25-14, 25-22, 8-25 and 25-22.
“They like to go four sets,” said first-year Calexico head coach Yvanna Lopez with a smile.
The Bulldogs had a busy week as the Tigers were their third game after they challenged West Shores on Monday in a 3-1 loss and Southwest High on Tuesday in a 3-2 win.
“It was definitely a lot of team work,” Lopez said of the team’s wins over the Eagles and Tigers. “All week I’ve just been trying to get them together as a team, make them have lunch together to build that team chemistry.”
It certainly paid off Thursday and particularly in the fourth set when the Tigers came back from a 15-7 deficit to nearly tie the game.
Imperial used outside hitter Alyssa Chavarria and libero Ale De La Trinidad, who finished with 15 digs, to creep back into the game, while the Bulldogs used Iran Alvarez and setter Nataly Martinez to form their own attack.
“Iran is all about the team,” Lopez said. “She’s just a great team player and she’ll roll it over or look for the kill … whatever the team needs.”
Alvarez led the Bulldogs in the win posting a double-double with 13 kills, 25 digs and six service aces.
Julissa Ceceña added 11 kills, while setter Martinez finished with 33 assists and seven service points. Holding down the back row for the Bulldogs was libero Luz Martinez, who tallied 28 digs and 15 serve reception points.
Imperial’s hitters definitely kept Martinez and the rest of the Bulldogs busy as Chavarria and Cady Davis both paced the team with 10 kills each.
Sophomore Abby Ormand posted eight kills, while Jasmine Mejia finished with six kills as senior setter Lexi Retana finished with 29 assists and two aces.
“We do tend to let up a little in the third game,” Lopez said.
The third set was the Bulldogs’ only loss in the match by the surprising score of 8-25.
“I think we’re just so excited in the first two sets that by the third we lose that energy and it shows on the whole team,” she said. “It’s definitely something we need to work on moving forward.”
With the win, Calexico moves to 4-7 overall and 3-1 in IVL play, while Imperial drops to 8-6 overall and 2-1 in IVL play.