RIPON — Finally.
This is Ripon volleyball coach Adrienne Beltrami’s fifth season with the Indians coming into Monday night’s showdown with longtime Trans Valley League rival Escalon a Beltrami-coached team had not beaten the Cougars.
That all changed Monday.
In front of a spirited crowd the host Indians edged Escalon 21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22.
“This is my fifth year here,” Beltrami said. “And we have not beaten Escalon until tonight. This is a big deal for us.
“This is a huge turning point. The girls stayed calm and confident. They are an amazing group of young ladies and I am so proud of my girls. We have worked so hard.”
The win Monday did not come easy for Ripon (7-2 TVL, 14-7 overall) as there were 31 ties in the four games.
With each team having won a set and the Indians leading 24-21 min the third, Madison McCreath got one her nine kills to end the contest when she squibbed one over the net. Ripon held off a late surge by Escalon (6-2, 18-13) in the fourth set and McCreath ended that set with a powerful kill that also ended the night.
“That kill at the end of game three was on purpose,” McCreath said. “The one at the end of the fourth game was a team thing. The pass and the set had to be there and everyone was covering.”
Sam McCreath dominated front-line play for the Indians with 19 kills.
“I couldn’t do it without my team,” Sam McCreath said. “I couldn’t do it without the pass or the set.
“I have to know the pressure and who is across from me and I have to trust my defense to know to tell me where to hit and then go there.”
Lauren Wiebe was all over the court for the Indians, dishing out 43 assists.
“We all knew what we had to do,” Wiebe said. “We just played our game and put the ball where it needed to go.”
Ashlyn Eisenga had 27 digs for Ripon with Courtney Slamon getting seven blocks and Makayla Blue had four aces.
Both teams had spirited student cheering sections that brought a special atmosphere to the evening.
“There is a long-time healthy rival between Ripon and Escalon,” Beltrami said. “Even back when I played here there has always been that rivalry and intensity when we play Escalon.
“There is just something about it. They always bring a great crowd, they always bring good volleyball and they always have great coaches. It is exciting to go head-to-head with them.”
Sophomore
Ripon 2, Escalon 1
Janessa Inderbitzin had an emphatic kill for the Indians for the final point in a 16-25, 25-15, 15-11 thriller.
Inderbitzin had six blocks and four kills with Taylor Werner getting eight assists and Katie Kaiser five digs.
