It wasn’t the result coach Mary Ann Tolbert wanted, but she got the desired effort from her Manteca girls tennis team on Thursday when it hosted two-time defending champion Mountain House in a Valley Oak League first-place battle.
The Buffaloes lost 7-2, but it was the most competitive match that Mountain House has had in league, so far.
“So proud of the play of the girls today,” Tolbert said. “The scores don’t even reflect how well the girls played.”
Manteca (4-1 VOL, 8-6-1 overall) won the Nos. 1 and 2 singles matches. Reigning VOL singles champion Hailie Kim knocked off Vivian Zhang 6-0, 6-1, while Reina Ngo toppled Alicia Rawat, 6-4, 7-5.
The visiting Mustangs (5-0, 9-1) swept the rest.
Manteca’s Saihaj Ghuman provided some resistance at No. 4 singles before falling to Diya Sundar, 3-6, 4-6. No. 3 Rae Limbago lost to Ishita Ahelleya 2-6, 1-6, No. 5 Paisley Coeneneberg to Hansika Dinesh 0-6, 0-6 and No. 5 Ekam Ghuman to Dhruvika Samala, 2-6, 4-6.
In doubles, No. 1 Ziqi Huang and Caitlyn Vu fell to Varna Maganti and Kauri Krishna 0-6, 1-6, No. 2 Alyson Alvarado and Cat Estrada Perez to Aditi Baskaran and Keerthana Jallipalli 1-6, 0-6 and No. 3 Naomi Navarro and Delylah Quintero to Nitya Meda and Ishika Gupta, 0-6, 0-6.
Manteca ends the first half of its league schedule next Tuesday against visiting East Union.
GIRLS GOLF
East Union 275, Manteca 323
Paced by low medalist Arianna Pale, the Lancers improved to 4-0 in the VOL and 6-0 overall with the win at Manteca Park Golf Course.
Pale finished 8-over-par 44, and Manteca’s Layla Flannigan was runner-up with a 47.
Alizae Farias added a 53 for East Union. Michaela Tarr (55), Kaylee Brown (58) and Vivi Bonetti (65) rounded out the Lancers’ score.
Following Flannigan for Manteca were Ganiyah Giron (65), Dannica Branco (69), Deziree Valladarez (70) and Neriah Flores (72).
FLAG FOOTBALL
Lathrop 7, St. Mary’s 6
At Bennie Gatto Field, the Spartans (9-2) picked up their sixth straight win after edging out a strong non-league opponent in St. Mary’s (7-5)
Dual-threat quarterback Ja’Leiyah Ray provided the difference after scoring on a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, following that up with the conversion try. Defensively, she reeled in the second of her two interceptions on the final play to secure the win.
Ray finished 11-of-19 passing for 130 yards, while rushing for 47 yards on nine attempts. She also had five flag pulls on defense.
Faith Allen was instrumental defensively with four sacks. Mariana Coon added four flag pulls and an interception.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Escalon 3, River Islands 0
River Islands (3-1) gave Trans Valley League contender Escalon (13-4) some fits in the 23-25, 17-25, 20-25 road loss.
“Not only was the environment super lively, but these girls really fought,” River Islands coach Rhiannon Genilla said. “Escalon was one of the quickest offenses we’ve faced, but we did not let Escalon go home without a fight.”
Libero Isabella Carrillo led the scrappy defense with 28 digs.
Ada Morales had a team-high 10 kills, as she continues to return to form from a knee injury. Leighann Ruiz contributed six kills, and setter Corley Simoni had five kills with 12 assists.
JV flag football
Lathrop 26, St. Mary’s 0
Vanescia Rodriguez flashed her big-play ability for Lathrop with a 29-yard touchdown run and 32-yard touchdown catch.
Alexia Garcia completed two touchdown passes, finishing 8 of 15 with 78 yards and an interception. She also rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown on four carries.
