The Ripon Christian Knights picked up a non-conference boys’ volleyball victory Friday night, winning in four sets 25-9, 25-19, 21-25, 25-1 over East Union High at the Dalben Center.
Friday’s contest was originally scheduled to be the final preseason contest between the two schools, but league play for both teams was moved up by the San Joaquin Sec t ion , presenting an opportunity for both schools to meet to work on things after strong starts in league play.
Ripon Christian (10-2) took the first two sets somewhat convincingly behind strong serving and attacking from hitters Mason Tameling and Grant Wentworth.
“I thought we came out really well tonight,” Knights coach Kevin Tameling said. “We knew coming in East Union was a solid team that plays great defense. The first set was the best we’ve served all season long and I think was a huge key in propelling us to Mason Tameling (19 kills) and Wentworth (10 kills) were set up in the first two sets and all game long but strong setting from junior setter Daniel Lambdin who tallied 40 assists in the match.
With all of the momentum on the side of their opponents going into the third set, East Union (5-6) dug deep to show the resolve that has gotten them off to a 1-1 start in the Valley Oak League. Service points from junior setter Isaac Serrato (3 aces) combined with strong outside hitting from sophomore Gabriel Estabillo (9 kills) propelled the Lancers to a 25-21 victory in the third set.
“We really woke up in the third set,” Lancers coach Tevani Liotard said. “I’ve told my team all year long we get into spells where we’re playing chunky and not fluid at all. I feel like in that third set things started going much more fluidly for us and you saw the result.”
The third set proved to be a wake up call for Kevin Tameling’s Knights.
“We had to remind these guys to keep their foot on the pedal after that third set,” Kevin Tameling said. “We asked them to get back to the basics, pushing on offense, scrapping on defense, knowing that teams like East Union are not going to lie down and let you beat them you have to earn it.”
Pushed back on their heels entering the fourth set, Ripon Christian leaned on the junior Mason Tameling, who recorded seven kills in the set including the final two points in the match to seal the victory for the Knights.
“Mason makes our team go,” Kevin Tameling said. “He’s the guy we want to get the ball to offensively, but I think what I was most impressed with tonight was the effort he played with defensively.”
In addition to the strong effort on defense from Mason Tameling, Ripon Christian got big performances at the net from Wentworth (10 blocks), Darren Van Groningen (9 blocks), and Isaiah Vander Woude 9 (6 blocks).
East Union also got notable performances from senior Guadalupe Reyes, who recorded a team high 17 assists, as well as senior Keenan Yang who had eight digs in the match.
Teams will get back into action in their respective leagues next week. Ripon Christian will travel to Hilmar on Monday evening in Trans Valley League play, and East Union heads to Oakdale on Wednesday to continue their Valley Oak League campaign.
