Spartans hold off Grizzlies Page 1B
Strathmore High School’s volleyball team shrug off an 8-point deficit to come back and defeat Granite Hills in straight sets in Tuesday’s East Sequoia League game on the road.
Strathmore High School’s volleyball team shrug off an 8-point deficit to come back and defeat Granite Hills in straight sets in Tuesday’s East Sequoia League game on the road.
Strathmore (14-11, 7-2 ESL) won all three sets 25-21, 25-20 and 25-19. The victory spoiled the Grizzlies (2-13, 0-7 ESL) senior night but kept the defending-esl champion Spartans hopes of another ESL title alive.
“I’m happy we won but it was kind of up and down,” SHS head coach Aliya Bayless said. “They finally [brought] whole game together and that makes me happy.”
Despite their record Granite Hills gave Strathmore a run for their money by building up large leads and keeping the game close. But excellent play out of SHS star outside hitter Emily Kissick helped the Spartans put the Grizzlies away.
“She’s a beast,” Bayless said about Kissick. The junior finished with 18 kills, 11 digs and five aces.
In the third set, the Grizzlies took their largest lead of the night with an early 9-1 lead but a smart play from SHS senior setter Isabella Galang and back-to-back kills from Kissick cut Granite Hills lead to 5. Mistakes from the Grizzlies and another two kills from Kissick brought the Spartans within one before an ace from sophomore Jacelyn Ashcraft tied the set at 11.
Strathmore scored nine of the next 11 points and took a 21-13 lead, their largest of the night. They finished the set strong with two kills from SHS junior Makayla Trujillo for the overall victory. Trujillo had six kills and three aces on the night while Galang finished with 33 assists.
The Grizzlies started each set off with the lead but five ties and one lead change put the first set in the Spartans favor, while the second set saw three ties and two lead changes before Strathmore could take over the game.
The energy and big plays from GHHS players like Viviana Aldacao carried Granite Hills and kept each set close.
“They did really good tonight, I’m surprised,” GHHS head coach Vanessa Rispoli said. We told them leave it all on the court. For the seniors it was their last home game. I’m happy, they did good. I feel like this was probably one of their best games of the season. They worked as a team and that’s all I can ask for.”
Strathmore is tied for first place in the ESL with Woodlake (1314, 6-2 ESL) and must win Thursday’s rivalry match against Lindsay (9-7, 5-3 ESL) to share the ESL title.
“We must win that game because we’re tied with Woodlake,” Bayless said. “I’m looking forward to it because it’s senior night and it’ll bring up the girls spirit and they’ll fight really hard.”
Stats were not available for Granite Hills prior to publication.