When the Pitman High volleyball team lost to Golden Valley High in the Central California Conference opener on Sept. 15, it wasn’t necessarily a bad showing by the Pride. Consider this: They took the Cougars to five sets.

That match the Pride never forgot. And since then, they’ve improved. That might explain their victory over the Cougars on Monday night in Merced, which was done in three sets (25-18, 26-24, 25-12) to Pitman’s league record 4-2.

It also marked Golden Valley’s first league loss of the season, as the Cougars are now 5-1.

What changed since the previous Cougars match?

“We played more consistently overall,” Pitman coach Kristen Pontes said. “We played together as a team the entire match, even when we were losing the second game. The girls wanted it more this time, and they knew we could beat them if we played smart the entire match.”

Some of the match’s highlights for the Pride include Maci Murdock’s four blocks, Annabel Perez’s nine digs and 30 assists and Ashley Solis’ 13 kills and one ace.

Pitman will host Buhach Colony High at 6 p.m. today, but the Pride know their third and final meeting against a revenge-minded Golden Valley lingers — one that will take place Oct. 20.

“I think Golden Valley didn’t expect us to play so well,” Pontes said, “so we caught them off-guard. I predict our next and last match against Golden Valley to be a tough one for both teams and we are looking forward to it.”

To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.