Manteca High’s Winter Gym seems to bring out the best in Monica King.

East Union’s senior outside hitter showed up in a big way on Wednesday, finishing with 12 kills and 10 digs during a 3-0 sweep over cross-town rival Manteca, 25-11, 25-10, 25-18.

“Monica loves playing over here,” East Union head coach Rich Posz said. “She had a great night, and I think she had a statement to make.”

This was the Lancers’ Valley Oak League opener, and they’re now 1-0, 12-2-2 overall.

Manteca, which made it interesting in the third game with a 7-1 run to that cut its deficit to four, fell to 2-3 overall, 0-1 VOL.

“We didn’t give a good enough effort as we needed to,” Manteca head coach Kevin Bolding said. “(East Union) is a good team. We, for whatever reason, didn’t come out ready to play.

“You can’t give up big runs. When you do, you kind of dig a hole for yourself and it’s tough.”

Manteca trailed by double digits in each of the first three games. In the last game, EU opened on a 5-1 run that included two kills from Madison Hoffman. King recorded two consecutive aces to make it 13-6.

A kill from Regina Dias, who finished with four total, made it 18-8 Lancers. A block from Manteca sparked an 8-2 run that made it 22-18 after back-to-back missed kills from EU.

The Lancers scored the last three points after a timeout to end the game with two assists (14 total) from Carolina Gutierrez, who set up the last two kills for Dias and Victoria Vezeldenos.

“We were definitely on tonight,” Posz said. “It’s huge when you can get that momentum started. Being aggressive and bringing that excitement and energy just takes the other team out. You have to be ready for these cross-town games, and tonight we were ready and worked hard for it.”

In Game 2, East Union started on a 5-0 run and Manteca couldn’t pull any closer than within three. After the score was 8-5, the Lancers went on a 17-2 run to close the game and put the Buffaloes in a 2-0 hole to start the match.

King had two key kills that sparked the run. Dias scored two of EU’s final three points on aces.

In the first game, the Lancers opened 6-0. They also had a 7-0 run that stretched it to 21-9 and closed it on a 4-0 run to win by 14. Manteca had a pair of kills during the first set to pull within six, but EU Libero Jami Arceo came up with a clutch kill (three total) from the second row and three straight service points to stretch the lead back to double digits.

EU senior setter Courtney Posz led the team with a game-high 18 assists.

The Lancers will host Lathrop on Monday, while Manteca hosts Weston Ranch.



SOPHOMORE

EU 2, Manteca 0

East Union (1-0 VOL, 12-0 overall) is still unbeaten after sweeping Manteca, 25-16, 25-19.

Alissa Burrola led the team with 13 digs defensively and eight service points. Deja Guzman served for 16 points, while Stephanie Lopez led her squad with four kills. Mariah Jeffery had three blocks.