Spartans down Tigers for top spot
Strathmore beat Woodlake 3-1
Strathmore High School volleyball took sole possession of first place in the East Sequoia League with a 3-1 win over Woodlake in a league match at home Tuesday evening.
The Spartans (12-4, 8-2 ESL) had to battle to keep an everthreatening Tigers (12-12, 7-2 ESL) team from pulling off a comeback after dropping the third set 25-22 to Woodlake. Strathmore won the first two sets 25-18 and 25-22 then rallied to win the final set 25-20.
The Spartans lone loss in ESL this season was a 3-0 sweep by the Tigers on Sept. 12.
“I’m happy for the kids,” SHS head coach Sonny Perez said. “I’m really happy for them. Confidence win is huge. We have Lindsay and Farmersville [coming up] but our focus is obviously Senior Night on Monday. I’d really like to beat Sierra Pacific. We played well [sometimes] and when we play well, we play well. And when we don’t, we don’t.”
Strathmore seniors, outside hitter Emily Kissick and middle blocker Lucy Bennett, led the team in kills with 11 each and were essential late in sets along with senior outside hitter Paige Borges who finished with seven kills. Kissick, Lucy Bennett and junior middle blocker Jacelyn Ashcraft also led a strong front row effort that had several blocks.
Every set was close but none more so than the final set where the Spartans and Tigers traded each other numerous times for leads and there was never more than a 5-point lead.
“It was nice to see, instead of the usual cast which is Lucy and Emily [scoring] most of the points, Lena [Bennett] had some great aces today,” Perez said. “Paige had some great swings near the end. Makayla [Trujillo] struggled a little bit. Brooklyn [Della] who I moved up from the [junior varsity] team, she did really well. I’m glad to see where we’re at.”
Sophomore setter Lena Bennett’s strong serve produced five aces and the younger Bennett also had 35 assist. Senior libero Giselle Arellano led the teams in digs with 18 while Kissick finished with 16 and Borges had 11. Also for the Spartans, Ashcraft had seven kills.
Perez said getting to the CIF Central Section Division IV finals is still the goal for the Spartans.
Strathmore travels to Farmersville (6-16-1, 0-9 ESL) Thursday for a 6 p.m. game before returning home Monday, Oct. 15 for their game against Sierra Pacific (19-13, 8-2 ESL).
GIRLS GOLF
Marauders, Panthers improve at EYL mini tourney Porterville and Monache High School girls golf teams played
their second of three East Yosemite League mini tournaments Tuesday at River Island Country Club. The Panthers finished with a team score of 639 while the Marauders shot a 597 to earn third place.
For Monache, Danielle Margosian shot a 101, Rachel Clement a 114, Judith Cordero a 122, Kere Martinez a 130, Alondra Garcia a 130 and Katie Land a 142.
“Scores were higher today at River Island than last week at Tulare for all teams,” MHS head coach Jake Winter said. “Being a tougher course I expected the scores to be higher. Very happy with the team score under 600. These girls have improved all season and today they were rewarded with a third-place finish.”
Garcia shot a 64 on one of nine-hole rounds for her season-best, ninehole score.
Porterville’s Angela Eugene carded two birdies on the front nine on holes two and six, and was the only athlete to birdie a hole. She also shot a 108 for eighth place while teammate Aunika Marquez shot a 115 for 13th place. Also for Porterville, Kayla Johnson shot a 135, Uniese Carrillo shot a 143, Catherine Entenman shot a 164 and Gemma Gasco shot a 138.
“The front nine was the best we have played all year,” PHS head coach David Herrera said. “We were beating Tulare western and within 9 strokes of third place at the turn. We shot a low nine hole round of 306... The girls did a great job on improving their nine hole score and never giving up. We keep improving as a team which is all I can ask for.