LATHROP — Manteca setter Kaitlyn Morenzone started the third set Monday on a 5-0 service run and had four of her seven kills in the set with back-to-back spikes, the later a resounding blast to end the night’s longest rally and ensure a 25-18, 25-20, 25-15 Valley Oak League win over host Lathrop.
“I just wanted to end the game,” said Morenzone, who also had 17 assists, 10 service points, nine digs and an ace. “I just wanted to show everyone what Manteca can do.”
Kacy Bolding added 14 assists, seven service points, five digs, four kills and two blocks for the Buffaloes (5-0 VOL, 14-3 overall) and Emma Kadillak had nine kills and six service points.
Manteca’s Payton Reis dominated the net with 12 kills and had four service points, including an ace to end the second set.
“I wasn’t trying to serve it there, but it felt good to end that game with an ace.” Reis said. “And then we got some good momentum going in the last game.
“My setters know exactly where to put it for me to be successful and it’s mostly them that set it up so well for me.”
With the Spartans (3-2, 4-5) closing the gap in the third set to 17-14, Rhiannon Genilla (10 service points, 10 digs, nine kills and an ace) had a 5-0 service run to help the Buffaloes close the night on an 8-1 run capped with an ace by Sarah Inderbitzin (eight service points, four kills, three blocks).
“It seems like each night out we are getting multiple people involved, and that’s huge,” Manteca coach Kevin Bolding said. “It’s all spots, not a particular spot or one or two.
“From the start, they wanted a piece of us and they looked good. A lot different than from years past.”
Jahsita Fa’alii led Lathrop with eight kills, six digs, four blocks and an ace. Mary Cotton added five blocks and four kills, Krystal Tempra had eight kills and Karina Chavez (24 assists, three kills, ace) and Harjass Kaur (two aces) each had five digs.
Coming into the game, Lathrop was tied for second in the VOL with Oakdale.
“I think in years past our expectation here was a little different,” Spartans coach Heather Anderson said. “Of course, we are always happy to compete, and props to Manteca High because they are a great team, but I think that we got frustrated because we are not used to these big games.
“We are not used to pressure games where the standings are on the line, because usually the standings are irrelevant when we play teams like this. So, we are happy to compete, but we want to turn the page and shift the expectation to where just competing isn’t good enough.”
Sophomore
Manteca 2, Lathrop 1
The Spartans forced a third set with a thrilling second-game win, but Kaley Miller slammed the door on Lathrop when she closed the third set with four consecutive service points behind an ace.
Abby Arias (13 service points, five assists) and Julia Moreno had three kills apiece for the Buffaloes and Sydnee Navarro added 11 assists.
A’Ja Green and Jennifer Santillan (five aces) combined for a four-point Spartans run to end the second set with Santillan getting an ace in her game-ending two points. Nicole Vasconcelos added three kills for Lathrop.
