GONZALES — Gonzales High volleyball team split its Mission Division games last week, losing a five-game match at Watsonville on Wednesday and sweeping the host Seaside in three sets on Friday.
At Watsonville, Angelina Navarro had 11 kills, two blocks, 12 digs and five service aces. Breyannalee Tello and Maryanne Camarena combined for 56 digs and nine aces, and Natalie Bustos contributed with four blocks and five aces.
“Seeing this was our first long away match this season, the girls fought the entire way through the intense match,” said Gonzales Spartans head coach Desiree Baltazar. “This was our third five-set match in a row. We just missed opportunities we had to finish. As always, I am proud of the hard work they put into every point of every match.”
Against Seaside, Navarro had 16 kills, four aces, six blocks and seven digs in the win. Karisma Canada and Priscilla Hurtado combined for 14 kills. Natalia Bustos contributed with five blocks, and Tello had five aces and 22 digs.
“We needed this sweep and we had all the parts of the machine moving fluidly,“ Baltazar said. “It’s what we know we are capable of, it’s the consistency piece we are missing at times that trips us up. I’m trying to get them to stop overthinking every move and just have fun playing the game they love.”
The Spartans played at divisional leading Monterey High on Tuesday and will host the Soledad Aztecs on Thursday evening.
GREENFIELD
Playing a bit shorthanded in Salinas, the Greenfield Bruins volleyball team lost for the first time in Cypress Division play, falling in four sets to the Rancho San Juan Trailblazers last Friday night.
Aleena Salas finished with 20 kills, and Jocelyn Mendoza had 30 assists against Rancho San Juan.
Three days earlier in Watsonville, Salas had a strong game with 22 kills, 13 aces and 22 digs in a 3-1 win over the St. Francis Sharks. Mendoza added 27 assists and eight aces, while Emily Soto added eight kills. Kimberly Carpion and Arlene Cruz combined for 12 blocks.
Greenfield started the first round of divisional games at North Salinas on Monday, and will host the North Monterey County Condors on Wednesday night.
Greenfield (16-6 overall) is in first place in the Cypress Division with a 5-1 record.
