SALINAS VALLEY — Soledad High’s volleyball team beat Mission Division foes Gonzales and Rancho San Juan and finished the week by claiming the Gold Division championship at the Gonzales Spikefest on Saturday.
The Aztecs defeated Gonzales, 3-0, last Tuesday at home, and then won 3-0 on the road against the Rancho San Juan Trailblazers on Thursday.
Against the Spartans, Soledad’s Kyla Anderson had 11 kills, two digs, one block and one service ace. Delylah Ocampo just missed a double double with nine kills and nine digs, and added three service aces.
In the Rancho San Juan contest, Ocampo finished with eight kills, five digs and two service aces. Anderson added seven kills and had three blocks, while Sierra Botello had six kills. Ilene Cortina and Natalie Banuelos combined for 27 assists.
Soledad improved to 2-0 in the Mission Division and are 8-0 overall.
Aztec head coach Samantha Barrera said she was pleased with her team’s efforts at the Spikefest in Gonzales.
“It was truly a team victory,” Barrera said. “Everyone contributed and our defense was amazing.”
The Aztecs played against Rancho San Juan, Ceiba, and then once again against Rancho San Juan in the championship finals for the gold. Delylah Ocampo was chosen as the Soledad team’s All-Tourney player.
Statistically for the tournament: Ilene Cortina had 41 assists; Delylah Ocampo had 19 kills and seven aces; Kyla Anderson had 10 kills and six aces; Kaylee Perez-Rico had 23 kills; and Natalie Basaldua had 23 assists and six aces.
Soledad will host King City on Wednesday night and will play at North Monterey County on Friday.
King City began divisional play last Tuesday with a 3-0 win against Watsonville. The Mustangs’ Bri Zamora had 11 kills, five aces and five blocks, while Crystal Paramo added five kills. Alizah Carrillo had six digs and seven aces. Taelyn Munoz and Mily Paramo combined for 11 digs, seven aces and 21 assists.
Last Thursday King City had a tough divisional loss to Alisal, falling by a 3-0 score in the Trojan gym in Salinas.
“We had 10 aces as a team,” said Mustang head coach Christine Luna. “Bri Zamora led with five kills and Alizah Carrillo was solid in the back row.”
On Saturday, King City traveled to Santa Maria to participate in the VCA Lions Classic Tournament.
“We ended the day 4-0 and brought home the championship,” Luna said. “The girls played great together and it was a great team effort by all of them to secure the win. We travel to Soledad on Wednesday and are home on Friday against Gonzales.”
In Thursday’s home game loss to Stevenson, Gonzales’ Alitzel Mauro-Perez had 18 assists and 12 digs, and Juliet Villegas contributed with eight kills and seven digs. Alyssa Sandoval had 10 digs and four service aces, while Maricruz Bibriesca finished with seven kills and four blocks.
Gonzales is 0-3 in the Mission Division and 3-3 overall. They will host Rancho San Juan on Wednesday night and then play at King City on Friday.
Greenfield was .500 last week, defeating St. Francis in Watsonville, 3-2, before losing 3-0 against visiting Marina. In the win over St. Francis, Alexeen Sanchez had 56 digs.
The Bruins travel to Seaside to play the Spartans on Wednesday and will host the North Salinas Vikings on Friday night.
