RIPON — Manteca ended the first and third sets on big runs Tuesday and had a big spurt to close out the second set to defeat host Ripon 25-11, 25-11, 25-20 in non-league volleyball action at North Gym.
“The big thing with the rally scoring is if you can get those runs, or even some mini runs, it gives you that separation you need,” Buffaloes coach Kevin Bolding said. “On the other side though, you can also dig yourself a hole, and we have done that before as well.
“We showed some patience on some of those rallies. We didn’t force it much, but we did a little. For the most part, it was good.”
The first set was tied eight times with the final time at 19-19 before Manteca went on a 6-1 run to finish the game capped by one of Payton Reis’ 11 kills. She also finished with six digs.
In the third set, the Buffaloes (6-2) clawed back from a 12-6 deficit to knot the score at 18, 19 and 20 before an ace by Kaitlyn Morenzone (21 assists, 15 service points, 13 digs and four kills) and a kill by Kacy Bolding (13 assists, five kills, three blocks and an ace) ended the match.
“We try to hit the spots more than hit hard,” Morenzone said. “And we try to get everyone to touch the ball, not just certain people. That spreads out the sets and spreads out the spots.
“We work well together, and honestly, we just try to get everyone involved.”
The second set was close at the beginning with seven ties before 9-9. Rhiannon Genilla (10 kills, seven digs, two aces) then led Manteca on a big run, outscoring the Indians (0-1) 12-2 to end the game.
“We came in here with some pretty high intensity,” Genilla said. “We just all tried to do our job.
“We all depend on each other and it really shows with the teamwork we have to set each other up.”
After last year’s thrilling run to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship, Ripon finds itself having to plug more than a few holes from that squad.  
“Right now, we’re young,” Indians coach Erin Cutino said. “It is a rebuilding time for us and we are still kind of figuring each other out and figuring out our communication.
“That’s going to come with time and it will come with more play.”
Coach Bolding bolstered his team’s non-league schedule this year.
“We kind of re-did our schedule this year,” he said. “We have some good teams in the pre-season and teams like this makes us better.
“We did a good job of keeping them off balance and mixing it up — swinging, tipping — and our serving was pretty decent.” 
Emma Kadillak added nine service points and two aces for Manteca.
Sophomore
Manteca 2, Ripon 1
Kayley Miller had eight consecutive service points with two aces for the Buffaloes in the pivotal third game of the 26-24, 19-25, 15-2 Manteca win.
Mary Ann Bueno dominated the net in the second and third games for the Buffaloes and teammate Abigail Arias played well.

Freshman
Ripon 2, Manteca 1
After dropping the first set 15-25, the Indians bounced back to win the second 25-19 and eked out the third 17-15.
Jaelyn Negraza had 11 assists and an ace for the Buffaloes. Nicole Ruelas added five kills and three aces and Kyaira Jacobs had three aces and two kills.