Senior nights are by definition nights for mixed emotions, and the senior night for Ripon Christian boys volleyball Monday night was even more so. The lone Knights senior, Silas Vander Woude, is out for the rest of the year with an ankle injury, so Ripon Christian has to learn how to work without him.
The Knights are apparently a quick study, sweeping visiting Ripon 25-11, 25-8, 25-13 in non-league action.
“Losing Silas is a big loss for us,” Ripon Christian coach Kevin Tameling said. “He has been a mainstay for us in our lineup so we are having to try a little different lineup.
“So we are using this week with three matches to get prepared for the playoffs next week.”
Preston Zuidervaart (18 assists, three aces) had two big service runs for the Knights (21-1) – a six-point run in the first set and a 12-point run in the second set with a pair of aces in that second run.
“My passers have been passing to me really well this year,” Zuidervaart said. “And then the hitter can hit every ball I put up there.
“My coach has had me start my serves a little further back which helped a lot on those runs.”
During Zuidervaart’s 12-point run Joel Van Groningen (15 kills, five aces, block) blasted six kills – four in a row – and his five aces came off of a blistering jumps serve.
“We were trying to be more consistent this game,” Van Groningen said. “Because we need to be more consistent in the playoffs.
“Usually I miss a lot on my jump serves but today I think I was more consistent.”
Justin Hofman contributed on both ends for Ripon Christian with 15 assists along with six kills and a block.
“I try to get a decent set so we can get a nice hit,” Hofman said. “And then I get some good sets too and then I can hit them pretty good.”
Josiah Reif added 10 kills for the Knights and Griffin De Abreu chipped in three kills and three blocks.
Garrett Bright led the attack for the Indians (15-9) with 10 digs, eight assists, four kills an ace and a block. Martin Raygoza-Romero (seven digs, three blocks, two kills, two aces, two assists), Hunter Adams (six kills, six blocks, four digs, ace) and Bryan Ochoa (three digs, two kills) rounded out the Ripon attack.
The Indians found themselves short-handed.
“Ripon Christian is just a good team,” Ripon coach Tara Maruyama said. “And I am happy with how we played. We had three players out again so people were just trying different positions.”
Ripon wraps up Trans-Valley League play Wednesday at home against Hilmar at 6 p.m. and the Knights wrap up the regular season with a pair of non-league games at Livingston on Wednesday and at home Thursday against St. Mary’s of Stockton. Both games are at 6 p.m.
Junior varsity
Ripon 2, Ripon Christian 1
The Indians bounced back from a first set 22-25 loss to win the next two 25-18, 15-12.
Ripon’s Marquell Marshall tallied 19 digs followed by Luis Gutierrez with 16 digs and Ricky Langenfeld with 13. Anthony Gomez chipped in six assists, five kills and four aces.
Jacob Camper and Isaiah Van Der Woude played well for the Knights.
