An injury to sophomore setter Gizzel Jordan during Monday’s practice forced Golden Valley High girls volleyball coach Jacqueline Wooding to scramble to fill out a lineup for Tuesday’s match against Downey. With Jordan sidelined, Wooding called up sophomore Julyssa Perez from the junior varsity team and shifted senior Emily Green from outside hitter to setter to try to fill the void.

 

All the moving parts were too much to overcome as the Cougars lost in four games, 19-25, 25-22, 21-25, 11-25 to the Knights on Tuesday night at Cougar Arena. “You can’t be mad at two girls who are stepping up to play such an important position,” said Wooding, whose team dropped to 11-6 this season. “It’s a huge adjustment to make with just 20 minutes of practice.”

 

The Cougars battled tough through the first three games before Downey dominated in the final game. Senior Zoe Gonzales never left the court, finishing with a team high 16 kills to go along with 15 digs. Perez finished with 14 assists and Green added nine assists. 

 

Wooding said the Cougars didn’t make it easy for their setters. “It didn’t help that our passing wasn’t great tonight,” Wooding said. “Our regular setter can make those adjustments and still set up our hitters, but it’s tough when our passing is off and we’re asking two girls who don’t normally set to make those plays. Our middle was calling for one, but I don’t think our two girls tonight know how to set middle. Everything was set to the outside and (Downey) knew that and started cheating their block that way.”

 

The Cougars still played scrappy on defense, keeping rallies going as Kaylin Scheurich (21), Green (18) and Perez (10) all joined Gonzales with double-figure dig totals. Perez and Kate Hanson finished with two aces. “Our passing has to be better,” Green said. “That’s something we have to work on before we start league.”

 

Despite the loss, the Cougars are off to a great start this season. They hope the injury to Jordan isn’t serious and she’ll be back in the lineup soon. Golden Valley will open CCC play at home against Los Banos on Sept. 23. “I’m having so much fun with this team,” Green said. “Every year has been fun, but especially with this group.” 

El Capitan 3, Lodi 1 – The Gauchos improved to 11-6 with a 20-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-14 victory over the Flames on Tuesday night. Sophie Fernandez and Jordynn Middleton led the way for El Capitan with Fernandez registering 21 assists, 12 digs, three kills and six aces. Middleton recorded a team-high 19 kills. 

 

El Capitan’s Colette Collins added four aces and 23 digs, Yalizbette Lua chipped in with 13 kills, Anushka Elwin finished with 14 assists and eight digs and Danice Roden served up five aces to go along with nine digs.

 

El Capitan will host Clovis on Thursday before starting Central California Conference play on Sept. 23 at Buhach Colony.

 

Girls Water Polo

Patterson 9, Golden Valley 8 (OT) – The Cougars lost a thriller in overtime to the Tigers to drop to 2-3 on the season. Golden Valley was led by Jakobe Garcia, who finished with four goals and 10 steals. Katinia Ybarra added three goals and two steals and Juliette Cervantez stepped into the cage as goalie and recorded seven saves.

 

Girls Golf

Atwater 258, Los Banos 298 – The Falcons improved to 2-0 in CCC play with Paisley Garcia (39) and Lesley Rico-Paz (46) leading the way at Pheasant Run Golf Golf Course in Chowchilla.

 

El Capitan 265, Merced 298 – Esther Sheu fired a round of 40 as the Gauchos improved to 2-0 in the CCC. Mady Dietz added a round of 48 for El Capitan, which hopes to repeat as CCC champions. Abby Rosa (52) and Maya Rodriguez (53) led Merced (0-2 CCC) at the Merced Golf & Country Club. 

 

Buhach Colony 270, Golden Valley 318 – Amanda Englert’s score of 50 and Addison Englert’s 54 paced the Thunder in their victory over the Cougars on Tuesday. Aerie Castro turned in the top round for Golden Valley with a 60.

 

NOTE: If all MUHSD coaches could please e-mail in their scores with stats so their teams can be included in roundups, it would be appreciated.

Shawn Jansen is the MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.