TRACY — On the heels of back-to-back losses, the defending Valley Oak League champion Manteca girls volleyball team rebounded Tuesday with a 25-19, 25-16, 25-15 sweep of Kimball.
Last week, Manteca (3-1 VOL, 11-3 overall) dropped a five-set heartbreaker to first-place Central Catholic and was swept by Division I powerhouse Tracy in a nonleague match two nights later.
That was just the beginning of a tough stretch for the Buffaloes. After getting past dangerous Kimball (1-3, 7-8), they head to intra-city rival East Union (2-2, 6-5) on Thursday.
“Hopefully last week made us better, and tonight we played better,” Manteca coach Kevin Bolding said. “We’ll see. We’re by no means where we want go be, and it only gets tougher.”
Manteca’s two setters were on their game against the Jaguars. Kaitlyn Morenzone accumulated eight kills, 14 assists, 13 digs, five points and two aces, while Kacy Bolding chipped in five kills, 16 assists, eight points, nine digs and three blocks.
Outside hitter Payton Reis contributed six kills, five digs and two blocks. Middle blocker Kaylee MacDannald added three kills, eight digs, 11 points and two blocks. Olga Perez (12 digs, 10 points), Abbey Kadillak (15 digs) and Emma Kadillak (nine digs, nine points) led the back-row defense.

Ripon 3, Escalon 1
ESCALON — The Indians (3-1, 8-5 overall) produced their biggest win of the season Monday, stunning their longtime rivals, 25-18, 18-25,25-20, 25-20.
Escalon fell to 2-2 in Trans-Valley League play, 16-7 overall.
Mia Van Lewen spearheaded the Ripon attack with 17 kills, and Rachel Sausedo had 29 assists. Deven Stokes finished with 21 digs, while Alyssa Barrios and Sydney Thomason had two blocks apiece.

Lathrop 3, Los Banos 0
LATHROP — Lathrop (5-1, 8-3) has the outright hold of second place in the Western Athletic Conference after sweeping the defending champion Tigers (2-2, 4-11), 25-22, 25-11, 25-23.
Jahsita Fa’alii swatted a match-high 23 kills to go with 12 digs. Avleen Kaur added seven kills and three aces. Karina Chavez set 34 assists, served five aces and picked up five digs. Krystal Tempra contributed 21 digs, and Hailey Hunter had 26 along with three aces.

Junior varsity
Manteca 2, Kimball 1
TRACY — Manteca (2-2 VOL, 5-3 overall) squeaked out a 23-25, 25-22, 15-12 win behind Ari Chandler’s 13 service points, eight assists and three kills.
Kim Yu registered nine points and four kills, and Kyaira Jacobs had seven digs and five kills.

Lathrop 2, Los Banos 0
LATHROP — The Spartans (6-0, 8-3) remain in first place in the WAC with their 25-22, 25-21 victory.
Desiree Ambatali had 12 digs, two kills and an ace. Anahy Serrano dished out six assists.

Freshman
Los Banos 2, Lathrop 1
LATHROP — Layla Pereira-Watson and LaNicia Ellis churned out three kills each in the Spartans’ 25-16, 21-25, 7-15 defeat.
Natalie Sayasane contributed with eight assists.