Manteca’s service game is improving.

The Buffaloes racked up 21 aces in a 25-21, 25-7, 25-11 sweep of visiting Sierra in Valley Oak League volleyball action at Winter Gymnasium.

“We served good,” Buffaloes coach Kevin Bolding said. “For the most part, serving has been better the last few games. I do not know if is that we have better focus, but it has definitely been better.

“We did a good job of blocking and covering as well. Sometimes we get caught standing and watching but we did a really good job of not letting balls drop and getting a block up. And like I told the girls, if we get a block up we can play defense around it.”

Kaitlyn Morenzone had a whopping nine aces for Manteca (7-3 VOL, 10-4 overall) along with 19 service points, 12 assists and a kill.

“I have been working on serving for a long time,” Morenzone said. “Especially the jump serve.

“I usually only do the jump serve when we have a big lead, so I got to do it tonight.”

Payton Reis led the potent offensive attack for the Buffaloes with eight kills, five digs, two aces and a block.

More than one of Reis’ kills came from the back row.

“I have been working on the back-row kills,” Reis said. “Kaitlyn (Morenzone) and Kacy (Bolding) know exactly when I am ready for one and I try to do the best I can when they set me.

“We picked it up after the first game and everything started to click for us.”

Rhiannon Genilla (five aces) and Destanie Elliott (four blocks) had six kills apiece for Manteca. Tawny Deerinck added six digs, four aces and three ferocious kills and Bolding had seven assists, an ace, a block and a kill.

Before Manteca rolled through the last two sets with no ties and leading through both, it prevailed in a first-match slugfest that saw seven ties and three lead changes. 

Vanessa Padilla had back-to-back aces in a four-point run for the Timberwolves (0-10, 4-13) in the first set to help run Sierra’s lead to 15-10.

“She is someone that can come through in a pinch,” Timberwolves coach Trinity Johnson said of Padilla. “I can stick her anywhere on the court and she has just started serving for us.”

Alexis Surnip had four of her six aces for Sierra in a 5-0 run in the third set to draw the Timberwolves within 12-9, only for the Buffaloes to close out the night on a 13-2 run.

“She performed great tonight,” Johnson said of Surnip. “She was on point and she came through when we needed a pick-me-up.”

East Union 3,

Weston Ranch 0

The Lancers (3-5, 4-7) made quick work in the rematch against visiting Weston Ranch (1-7, 2-11), winning decisively 25-9, 25-13, 25-14. East Union also won the first meeting but it went five games.

Vanessa Cuellar led the offense with 17 assists, eight aces and four kills. Sophia Williams added eight kills, four blocks and six digs. Kiana Day and Isabel Marmolejo contributed five kills apiece, and LaEssa Pierce had seven digs.

Central Catholic 3,

Lathrop 1

In Modesto, the Spartans (4-6, 4-12) did well to battle back from an 18-6 deficit in the fourth game but came up short in a 21-25, 25-21, 18-25, 20-25 loss.

“We worked really hard to fight back and come to within four (23-19),” Lathrop coach Heather Anderson said. “I’m really proud they were able to come back rather than give up.”

Joy Bautista pounded out eight kills for Lathrop, while Malia Akers (three blocks) contributed seven and Myani Thornton (three blocks) and Fasha Hayes rapped five each. Setter Karina Chavez distributed 15 assists, while Brittany Johnson collected 13 digs.

Sophomore

Sierra 2, Manteca 1

The Timberwolves ran away with the third set in a 29-27, 15-25, 15-7 win.

Theresa Banham and Perla Valdovinos led the Sierra attack.

Emma Kadillak had nine service points, 10 assists, five aces and five digs for the Buffaloes. Kaley Miller added 10 service points and Lexi Reya and Kaylee MacDannald had five kills apiece. 

Freshman

Manteca 2, Sierra 1

MaryAnn Bueno had 13 digs and a kill for the Buffaloes in their 20-25, 25-17, 16-14 win.

Manteca’s Jayda Jackson added 14 assists, four kills and two aces. Olga Perez (four aces) and Sophia Cerritos (two aces) had five kills apiece. 

Joceline Dominguez had seven service points and Felicia La Quagia had six for the Timberwolves. Teammate Stella Bierly stepped up in the outside position.