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Manteca comes up short against 1st-place Kimball
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TRACY — Manteca could not get over the hump against Valley Oak League-leading Kimball on Thursday.

The Buffaloes held late leads in the first two games but ended up falling in four, 23-25, 24-26, 25-19, 20-25. 

“We were right there,” Manteca coach Kevin Bolding said. “We could have won in three.”

Rhiannon Genilla rapped out 11 kills with Destanie Elliott pitching in six. Setters Kacy Bolding (five kills, 15 assists, three blocks) and Kaitlyn Morenzone (six kills, 16 assists) also keyed the attack, and Tawny Deerinck anchored the defense with 11 digs.

“We played well, just didn’t get the points when we needed them,” coach Bolding said. “We had leads in the 20s in both of the (first two) games, but we probably made one or two too many errors at the wrong time. We had some chances and some things didn’t go our way. We couldn’t get it done.”

The Buffaloes will have chances to avenge their two league losses in the second half of league play. They previously lost to defending champion Oakdale in four sets two weeks ago. Bolding said his team can’t afford to look past everybody else, however. Up next is cross-town rival East Union.

“I’d like to say we’re all pretty close together (with Oakdale and Kimball), but we obviously lost to both of them,” Bolding said. “But that goes top to bottom. You look at teams like Lathrop, Weston Ranch and East Union, they can beat people too if you don’t come ready.”