Hughson came into the Ripon High gym Thursday trying to secure a portion of the Trans-Valley League girls volleyball title with Ripon. The Huskies led halfway through the first match – their final lead was 13-12 – and after that Hughson led by one point just once the rest of the way as Ripon claimed its fourth straight TVL title with its 50th consecutive league win 25-23, 25-20, 25-22.
“It was tough with them over there,” Ripon coach Devyn Soliz said. “And I knew this was going to be a touch match. It may have been senior night, but they have some great players over there.
“Yesterday we talked about expecting a battle and the girls were ready for it.”
Ripon had only three seniors to honor Thursday – Alayna Sprinkle, Kennedy Everhart and Jorie Eskes.
Sprinkle was a double threat, dishing out 23 assists while racking up 16 digs along with five aces and a block.
“We were anticipating this match all season,” Sprinkle said. “We knew it was going to be senior night and we knew it was going to be a tough match and that pumped me up especially to play the best that I could and it was a fun match.”
Everhart posted 16 digs and four assists.
“I came into this game looking for defensive reps,” Everhart said. “It’s so fun playing against a high-level team and high-level hitters is really exciting.”
Ashlyn Malone and Lilia Tuputala were the beneficiaries of Sprinkle’s pinpoint setting with 11 kills each.
Malone added nine digs.
“Offense is very important,” Malone said. “I was really trying to focus on the transition from serve-receive into defense and to offense and trying to figure out where I could score on the court.”
Tuputala slammed two blocks as well.
“I felt good,” Tuputala said. “Having all my teammates cheer me on no matter what was happening and Alayna (Sprinkle) setting me up with everything was great.
“I think we just brought amazing energy tonight.”
Eskes chipped in eight kills and nine digs.
The Sac-Joaquin Section playoff brackets will be released today with the playoffs due to start on Tuesday.
Junior varsity
Hughson 2, Ripon 0
The Huskies swept Ripon 25-13, 25-21.
Ripon’s Jordyn Breunig tallied seven digs, Blakely Miller five digs and a kill and Audrey Higgins three kills and an ace.
