After winning the first two sets quite handily, East Union’s Angelica Mercado started the third off with an 11-point service run as the Lancers swept visiting Pacheco of Los Banos 25-13, 25-12, 25-10 Tuesday in non-league action.
Mercado was not the only hot hand from the service line for East Union (2-0). Savannah LeBarre (nine aces, eight kills, two digs) had four aces in a six-point run in the first set that gave the Lancers the lead for good in the opener.
“I just focus when I serve,” Lebarre said. “And that helps. My net play was all right tonight, but it wasn’t my best.
East Union came into the match following a tough 3-1 loss to West of Tracy on Monday in a Sac-Joaquin Section Foundation Game.
“The girls had to find their own steam tonight,” Lancers coach Chelsea Herrera said. “There was nothing to pump them up. During Monday’s loss to West, they thrived on the competition — it jacked them up.
“Then there are games like this one where they have to dig deep and find their own fire. They did not let down and they tried new things that we have been trying in practice.”
With Lebarre and Mercado getting the ball rolling to start the games for East Union, Kiana Day (eight kills, three aces and two digs) ended each game — the first two via kill and the final one on an ace.
“This was a slower pace for us than West,” Day said. “But it gave us a chance to run our plays and to work on the things we have been working on in practice.”
Alexus Surnip had 19 assists for the Lancers with three aces and two kills. Mercado added three digs and an ace; Jaidyn Valencia had four kills, four aces and two digs and Miekayla Surnip had seven kills.
 
Ripon Christian 3, Bret Harte 0
In Angels Camp, Makenzie Miller tallied nine kills, while Renae Heida and Emily Van Groningen added six kills each to lead the Knights (2-0) to a 25-18, 25-18, 25-18 sweep of the Bullfrogs (0-3-1).
“It was a great first official start to the season,” Ripon Christian coach Jocelyn Benziger said. “The girls had a sense of confidence that made it difficult to combat against. They worked together as a team and challenged Bret Harte every point.”
Lauren Braga had 13 kills, Miller nine and Charlotte teVelde seven. Miller, Heida and Taylor Anema had two aces each with Morgan Van Elderen (block) dishing out 26 assists and Emily Van Groningen getting two blocks.
 
Ripon 3, Central Valley 0
Mia Van Lewen blasted 20 kills for Ripon (2-0) in a 25-13, 25-11, 25-5 sweep of the visiting Hawks (0-1).
Rachel Sausedo had 27 assists for Ripon and Brooke Kaiser tallied four aces.

Tokay 3, Lathrop 0
The Spartans (0-2) battled but ultimately did not have an answer for 6-foot-4 outside hitter Kayly Pau and Tokay in a 27-29, 17-25, 23-25 defeat in Lodi.
Jahsita Fa’alii helped keep Lathrop (0-2) competitive with 19 kills and two aces. Jordan Corner contributed seven kills and three aces. Karina Chavez racked up 24 assists, and Krystal Tempra had 12 digs.

Junior varsity
East Union 2, Pacheco 0
Jessi Lopez tallied 13 service points to lead the Lancers to a 25-17, 25-9 win.
Julieanna Padilla (two aces) and Nicole Blair (ace) had three kills apiece. Danielle James tallied four assists and three aces and Alejandra Rodriguez chipped in two assists.
 
Tokay 2, Lathrop 1
Ke’Mya Barnett rapped five kills to pace Lathrop, which fell short, 25-21, 22-25, 7-15.
Desiree Ambatali contributed five aces and 10 digs, while setter Hailey Hunter distributed 11 assists.

Freshman
East Union 2, Pacheco 1
The Lancers dropped the first game 22-25 before rebounding to win the next two 25-15, 15-9.
East Union was nails from the service line with Elizabeth Lopez pounding out 10 aces and Alyssa Clap added seven aces.
Aryana Baraza had two aces and a kill and Janessa Godoy had a kill and an ace.

Tokay 2, Lathrop 1
The host Tigers pulled out a 29-27, 23-25, 17-15 victory in a competitive match.
Lylianna Avila served 12 aces for Lathrop, and Mackenzie Walsh chipped in six. Hailey Grant fired a pair of kills.