RIPON — Although visiting Escalon swept Ripon in Trans-Valley League volleyball action to strengthen its grip on first place, the first two sets could have gone either way before the Cougars pulled away in the third for a 33-31, 25-23, 25-14 win.

Neither team led by more than four points in either of the first two sets, and there were seven game points in the first set before Escalon’s Amanda Murphy hammered two consecutive kills to end the marathon at 33-31.

“I couldn’t be any prouder of the team we have right now and the way they went and battled,” Indians coach Chuck Sterni said, “Escalon is hands-down a good team and the girls fought really hard.

“Our team has a lot of heart. They don’t quit and they battle as much as they can. I do believe they gave everything they could but execution was the key.”

Ripon (5-2 TVL, 17-9 overall) has five sophomores on the roster.

“The maturity level showed a lot tonight,” Sterni said. “We will work on our executing and getting ahead and staying ahead.

“As we grow as a team we will be able to accomplish and execute faster and better.”

Danika Matuska led the Indians with eight kills and an ace. Sierra Barrios added six kills and a block, Caitlynn Campbell chipped in five kills and Bella Chapin had 27 digs. Reagan Wilkerson (35 assists) and Kaya Whittaker (28 assists) each had three aces and a kill.

The Cougars (8-0, 24-2) are no stranger to nail-biting matches.

“We had a first game like tonight’s in one of our games in the Stockton Classic last weekend,” Escalon coach Teresa Williamson said. “But because of the rivalry, there was a lot more passion tonight.”

Murphy had a standout game with 16 kills, four aces and a block. Three of her kills were from the back row and her four aces came in a six-point service run that allowed the Cougars to pull away in the final match.

“She definitely is a leader out there,” Williamson said of Murphy. “She has an amazing heart for the game and she does put her team first, I will tell you that. She’s just a smart player.”