The East Union Lancers are hoping to be a contender in the Valley Oak League’s inaugural boys volleyball season
Those chances certainly improved Wednesday with a sweep at Sierra.
East Union (2-2 VOL) took the match, 25-16, 25-23, 25-12.
“We really needed this win,” said Lancers coach Courtney Ozment.
The second game featuring seven ties proved to be the tipping point.
Sierra (0-5 VOL) received a boost from the front-line play of Abiel Tesfandrias and setter Diego Gracia.
The Timberwolves also served out of rotation.
Down 22-21 during a crucial stretch, East Union kept the rally alive on a save by Grant Silva while eventually earning the tying point.
He also had a block — Silva tallied a pair of solo blocks, two assisted blocks, eight kills and two service aces — and server Fernando Rodriguez put the Lancers ahead for good with his ace.
Rodriguez also put his team ahead midway through the opening game, getting help with kills by Jack Weaver and Zach Carter.
Carter put together a strong effort in the back row, where he registered 11 digs for the three games.
Weaver and his fellow setter Matthew Pilkay had 15 and seven assists, respectively.
East Union polished off that first game Weaver powering two of six kills and Emmanuel Knight dropping in a service ace.
The Lancers led from the get-go in the decisive third game.
Weaver served up five straight points as East Union jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
Sierra trailed 10-5 after Cyrus Hunter’s kill.
The Lancers pulled away, taking advantage of unforced errors and kills by Devin Abrew, Andy Parcells and Kyle Niendorf.
Abrew tallied 17 digs.
For the Timberwolves, Dylan Pagan had six digs while Gracia and Tesfandrias managed six assists and five kills, respectively.
“We’re working hard to come together as a team,” Sierra coach Michelle Springmeyer said. “We haven’t peaked yet.”
Manteca 3, Kimball 0
TRACY — The first-place showdown is set.
Manteca (3-0, 7-2) did its part Wednesday, sweeping host Kimball (3-1, 8-3), 25-16, 25-19, 25-23. The Buffaloes will head to Weston Ranch tonight in a matchup between the league’s two remaining unbeaten teams.
Kylan Chandler spearheaded Manteca’s big win, collecting 11 kills and 10 digs. Cameron Reis finished with eight kills and five blocks, Kyle Reis had five kills and five digs, and setters Oswaldo Garcia and Jonathan Borres handed out 16 and 13 assists, respectively. Joseph Borres chimed in with 16 digs, and Armando Martinez recorded three blocks.
“They came to play tonight, and hopefully they continue to do that,” Manteca coach Kevin Bolding said. “We were down a couples times in the third game and as much as four at one point, but they just kept battling and made it happen. Kimball is a good, solid team, no doubt. We just played real well tonight.”
Weston Ranch 3, Lathrop 1
STOCKTON — The Cougars (3-0 VOL, 8-3 overall) avoided an upset, running the table after dropping the first set in their 23-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-16 win.
Ryan Nepomuceno hammered eight kills, Armando Mendoza had five and Jarien Falcon handed out 18 assists to lead the attack. Libero Rence Santos finished with nine digs.
