Tigers flex muscles vs. Hawks
GALT — Kayly Pau made her presence known for the Tokay High volleyball team.
Liberty Ranch’s Jessica Smith also played a factor.
In the end, Pau’s Tigers flexed their muscles against Smith’s Hawks as Tokay (1010) posted a 3-1 win over Liberty Ranch (3-9) in a nonleague meeting; the final scores were 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21 at The Hawks Nest on Thursday.
The match was tied at 1-1 entering the third set. Pau, who was playing in only her second match of the season after hurting her right ankle over the summer, displayed her strong play at the net. Tokay expanded its slim 6-5 lead to 16-11 on three of her 22 kills in the match. In the second set, Pau, a junior, had four service points behind the line.
“I was on crutches for two weeks,” said Pau, who had been wearing a walking boot in recent weeks. “I’ve been going to physical therapy to get back in it.”
Added Tokay coach Scott Kyles, who let Pau play in Wednesday’s non-league win against Ripon, “She did look rusty. But we talked about it, and was hoping that she was going to rebound large tonight and she did.”
But Liberty Ranch battled throughout the third set. The Hawks rallied behind junior libero Morgan Childress, who tallied the team’s next four points behind the line after a Tiger side out to make it 13-12.
Hawk setter Makynna Snow contributed toward the team’s service points, keeping it close at 16-11. Receiving assistance from teammates, Childress, Emma Pearson, Giovanna Parino, Broooklyn Young, Smith and Kaydence Stormes, Snow and the Hawks spent a lot of time tipping the ball over net that forced Tokay to chase after the volleyball.
“A team like Liberty Ranch is going to be doing a tipping,” Kyles said. “They are a good little team; they played good defense tonight. But we had to be on the ball on our defense.” But the third set belonged to the Tigers, who also took advantage of a lot of Hawk side outs for the win for a 2-1 advantage.
Smith, one of the Hawks’ three captains, was used to counter Pau when they were playing the net in the fourth set. Smith, who stands 5-foot11, was able to kill the ball down the middle of the court. But Pau, who is listed at 6’4, dominated at the net. She also had four digs and two aces.
“Kayly Pau,” said Liberty Ranch coach Mark Snow on Pau making the difference in the match. “In the last set, I moved Jessica to be on her. We started to get some touches and some blocks on that. But we don’t have anybody over 6-feet. That’s the reason why we lost that match.”
But the Tigers finished the set behind sophomore out-
side hitter Grace Polhemus — one of four underclassmen on the team. She served the last four points, one of which was a shot that Liberty Ranch saw the ball in play but couldn’t get to it for the final point and win.
Polhemus and Anahi Ramirez took care of business behind the line serving for the Tigers in the final set. Natalie Polhemus, one of the Tigers’ captains, joined Pau freshman outside hitter Taylor Willis and sophomore middle blocker Ehlie Burroughs in moving the volleyball and either recorded kills or took advantage of more Liberty Ranch side outs for the win.
Tokay libero Jacqline Patino, a freshman, and Willis served most of the Tigers’ points in the set. Ramirez and Pau sealed the win for the Tigers when they had back-to-back kills that the Hawks couldn’t get to the volleyball in time to keep the set going in their favor.
“Warming up, I was so into it,” said Pau of
the Tigers’ warm-ups before the match. “I wanted to beat this team ... I just wanted to win.”
Reason why Pau was motivated for this area non-league match was because she started playing for the Twin Cities Volleyball Club, based out of Galt. Now she’s part of the Delta Volleyball Club here in Lodi.
Natalie Polhemus finished with 23 assists, 15 digs and nine kills. The senior also had two blocks.
Grace Polhemus had 25 digs and three aces for Tokay. Ravneet Rajasansi had 19 assists and five digs. Natalie Adams, one of the Tigers’ three captains who plays outside hitter, had seven kills. Belle Patino, a defensive specialist who is the third captain, had 15 digs.
Tokay opens Tri-City Athletic League action against Tracy at The Jungle on Monday. Liberty Ranch also opens play in the Sierra Valley Conference on Monday, playing at Bradshaw Christian of Elk Grove.
Contact reporter Mike Bush at mikeb@lodinews.com. Follow on Twitter: @MBushLodiSports.