Turlock Christian and Denair High met for the second time this season on the volleyball court Monday night in a Southern Athletic League matchup with the Eagles prevailing as the winners.
Denair knew they would have their hands full against the third place Eagles at home and they did as Turlock Christian was able to take it in straight sets (25-10, 25-8 and 25-11).
“We had this talk before about not underestimating anybody,” Turlock Christian head coach Ken Wynne said. “I didn’t say too much because we have a very mature team especially with our five seniors that are true leaders. The team knows that when we go into a game against a team that is rebuilding that they just need to stay focused and respect their opponents.”
Right from the start, the Eagles came out aggressive and took it to the Coyotes, playing nearly a perfect game against a struggling Denair squad as they dominated all three sets.
“I think it became a mental thing soon as the match started when they got serves and aces on us and our girls knew they were a good team. We were not sure we could play well against them,” Denair head coach Courtney Nutcher said. “Going into it they were not as overwhelmed as when the game actually began. I could see it in our girl’s faces they were down and could not get back out of it.”
The Eagles now have won eight of their last nine contests, six of which have been in straight sets.
“At the beginning of the year we struggled a bit, but it seems that now the girls get it and know what to do while having a good time all at the same time,” Wynne said. “We come into a game like this and hope to do well and they did give us some hard times but we did it.”
In a rebuilding year for coach Nutcher and company, the Coyotes have managed to come away with only two league victories for the season and currently sit in second to last place in the SAL, despite some bright spots on the defensive side.
TC’s Sarah Amaral finished the game with 11 kills and four digs, while Tiffany Franco added 21 assists. Nicky Sanders tallied two blocks and four aces.
Denair’s Alex Knapp topped out with three kills and a block. Kailyn Brammer finished with one ace while both Brammer and Gloria Olivas finished with eight digs.
