LATHROP — Lathrop throttled Ceres in the first set Tuesday before sputtering a bit in the next two but still sweeping the Bulldogs 25-11, 25-18, 25-18 in Western Athletic Conference action.
“We used this opportunity to work on a more complicated offense,” Spartans coach Heather Anderson said. “With that challenge came some communication errors in the second and third sets. We are trying to make our offense quicker but that is a growing process.
“We gave up some unforced errors but that was part of our plan. We tried to progress as a team and try things we wouldn’t usually try in a game.”
The first game went as planned with jump server Hailey Hunter (four aces, eight digs) going on a seven-point service run for Lathrop. In the second set Hunter helped the Spartans pull away late with three consecutive aces.
Krystal Tempra was all over the court for Lathrop (7-1 WAC, 10-3 overall) with 25 digs.
“I always try and be there with the passes to the setter,” Tempra said. “I also try and run the defense.
“Even though we had some communication errors, I feel great. A win’s a win and we have to take that all in and be ready for the next game.”
The Bulldogs (1-6, 2-13) kept the second and third sets close with four ties in each, but a 7-1 run in the third set keyed by two aces and two kills by Jahsita Fa’alii (10 kills, eight digs, three aces) gave the Spartans a 13-7 lead and they would not be challenged again. Lathrop ended the third set on a 5-0 run with an ace and a back-row kill by Fa’alii.
“It’s all about communication,” Fa’alii said. “And the kills came from good sets and good passes.”
Avleen Kaur had 12 kills and two aces for Lathrop. Jordan Corner added five kills and five digs and Karina Chavez dished out 25 assists, eight digs and four aces. 
 
Junior varsity
Lathrop 2, Ceres 1
Krystle Sakay stepped in from outside hitter to setter for the Spartans and served up 14 assists in a 25-16, 20-25, 25-10 Lathrop win.
Ke’mya Barnett had six kills for Lathrop, Jordan Eiras added four kills and Desiree Ambatali had eight aces.
 
Freshman
Ceres 2, Lathrop 1
Samreen Bal, Lylliana Avila and Hailey Grant all had three kills each for the Spartans in a 21-25, 25-14, 10-15 loss.
Avila had seven aces and Natalie Sayasane added 11 assists.