Ripon Christian was 0-2 in matches decided in five sets going into its Trans Valley League first-place showdown with visiting Big Valley Christian on Wednesday.
The Knights were pushed to another fifth set, but this time came out on the winning end, 25-20, 18-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-7.
Mason Tameling led the defending league champions with a double-double, Wesley Vander Woude filled in nicely for usual setter Daniel Lambdin and sophomores Trevor Van Groningen and Grant Wentworth came up clutch in the final set.
Ripon Christian (4-0 TVL, 7-4 overall) previously dropped five-set heartbreakers to Livingston and Manteca, both top-10 rated teams in the MaxPreps Sac-Joaquin Section rankings.
The experience appears to have done the Knights well. This past weekend, they squared off with four upper-division clubs in the Granite Bay Tournament and beat top-10 ranked West Park in a best-of-three.
On Wednesday, they overcame 18 service errors and some struggles with serve receive.
“You always want to play better, and you want to take care of business in three sets, but sometimes, mistakes happen and the other team is playing well,” RC coach Kevin Tameling said. “You like to see the grit from your team to finish off a five-setter, which we didn’t do earlier.
“We had a deciding set this weekend in a tournament where we defeated a very good West Park team, and I think playing that type of competition and tournaments helps prepare us for the rest of the season, and for games like this specifically.”
Mason Tameling led the charge against the Lions (2-1, 9-3) from Modesto with 18 kills and 10 digs. The 6-foot-7 Darren Van Groningen added 12 kills and three blocks in a battle of towering middles. Big Valley countered with 6-5 Austin Lung, who had 13 kills.
Trevor Van Groningen and Wentworth contributed 10 kills apiece. Wentworth put away two spikes in a row to give Ripon Christian match point, and Dylan Segaar sealed the victory by blocking a back-row spike from Cody Uribe (10 kills, two aces).
Trevor Van Groningen helped the Knights get separation in game 5, first coming up with a solo stuff for an early 3-1 lead. He later served six straight points, including three aces. The second-year outside hitter did not shy away from serving aggressively despite earlier errors from the line.
“It was a close game, and I really needed to just lock in at the end and get those serves in,” Trevor said. “Coach got on me earlier, so I needed that confidence.”
Coach Tameling has high expectations for the younger Van Groningen and Wentworth despite them being the youngest players on the team.
“Trevor has been struggling with consistency and was a little off this game early on, but he stepped up big when it counted,” Tameling said. “He grew up a lot tonight.
“They (Van Groningen and Wentworth) were fantastic. They got plenty of reps last year on varsity as freshmen and got to play big roles, but both of them have different roles this year. Trevor is a six-rotation player, and Grant is playing right side now.”
Tameling was especially impressed with Vander Woude, who amassed 49 assists and two blocks. The junior had to handle setting duties with Lambdin out on a college visit.
“(Lambdin) has been our setter in a 5-1 (system) the last year and a half,” Tameling said. “Wes has been doing some really good work for us on the right side and he sets a little bit when we need him to. Any time you change the lineup, guys have to try and figure some things out. The guys are used to Danny setting and what that looks like, but Wes is a great setter and he stepped up in a big spot tonight.”
Ripon Christian plays its third league match in four days tonight at Riverbank.
