In a second set that saw eight ties and two lead changes Thursday, Jorie Eskes toed the service line for host Ripon clinging to a 16-13 lead. Eskes went on a five-point run behind four aces and Ripon never trailed in that set and by one point once in the third set on the way to a 25-15, 25-17, 25-18 sweep of crosstown rival Ripon Christian in Trans-Valley League girls volleyball action.
“The biggest thing for us is we are trying to focus on our serve-and-pass game,” Ripon coach Devyn Soliz said “I feel that’s the most important thing and that’s been our biggest thing all year.
“In that second set our serving into the net and our passing was kind of bad and that kept them in close and finally we got those aces.”
Eskes finished with eight kills, six aces and four digs.
“We just practice all the time to be consistent with our serves and have a nice flow on it,” Eskes said. “I wasn’t trying to do anything special, I was just trying to keep a good serve in.
“Once I picked it up my coach told me to go the other way and that’s why I got those four aces.”
Ashlyn Malone patrolled the back row for Ripon (10-0 TVL, 22-4 overall) with a vengeance, netting 10 digs and six kills.
“I think defense is the foundation of the game,” Malone said. “We can’t run our offense unless we keep the ball off of the floor.
“It’s all about keeping the ball alive and being ready for what’s to come from the other side of the net and force them to make the error.”
Ripon freshman Lilia Tuputala continued to dominate in the net with 11 kills and two digs.
“I felt amazing,” Tuputala said. “I think our team brought a lot of energy andit kept me going. If I got in my head the team was there for me and they got me out.
“Alayna (Sprinkle) is always setting me up for success. It is just amazing to be out there with everyone.”
Sprinkle tallied 28 assists with five digs and even three kills. Kennedy Everhart added eight digs and Kya Cardosa five digs.
Lauren Mouw put up 17 digs for the Knights (3-7, 10-13) and Bella Blanco added 10. Alyssa Hofman tallied seven kills, Maddie Sabala five and Rhian Heuvel dished out nine assists.
“I would say this has been a tough year in terms of outcomes,” Ripon Christian coach Kayla Kootstra said. “The reality though is that the TVL is a tough volleyball league, so just because you’re losing doesn’t mean you’re a bad team.
“I feel like we are on the verge of winning a lot of these games. My hope is that the toughness we have been playing through will give us the drive and determination we are continuing to work is going to help when we get to playoffs and it’s win or go home. We haven’t been able to put it all together at the same time yet but I hope in the next week we can start to play our best volleyball.”
The Knights travel to Chico on Saturday to face Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills in the Pleasant Valley Tournament and then hosts Sonora on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Ripon is on the road Tuesday against Escalon at 6 p.m.
