Sierra hosted East Union at the Manteca High pool on Monday and swept the Lancers handily in Valley Oak League water polo with the boys winning 16-3, and the girls winning 19-2 with a running clock the second half.

Timberwolves boys coach Corey Winter wanted to set the tone for the upcoming week.

“I think we needed this league win,” Winter said. “I think that after coming off a week of games back-to-back-to-back that the boys got tired.

“So, getting a win and starting of this week nice and strong is definitely going to give us the confidence the boys need for this week.”

The Lancers (0-3 VOL, 0-4 overall) took a 1-0 lead in the boys match on a goal by Gabriel Holguin, only for Sierra (1-2, 1-6) to blank East Union the rest of the first half and into the second behind 14 consecutive goals.

Collins Schluer (nine goals, four assists, two saves) got three of the first five Timberwolves goals and assisted on the other two.

“At the beginning, we wanted to get a comfortable lead,” Schluer said. “And toward the end, we tried to get it to our teammates that get less opportunities to shoot.”

Sierra’s Bayan Ballew added five goals, four steals and three assists.

“East Union is a good programm, and they are just getting started,” Ballew said. “And it feels good to play against a crosstown rival.

“Keeping my head in the game on both offense and defense is very helpful for my effort.”

Noah Valdivia was a monster in the goal for the Timberwolves with 12 saves and two steals.

“I work a lot at practice on getting up on my legs and using my legs a lot more,” Valdivia said. “That has helped me get more blocks.”

Sierra’s Carson Murray added two goals, four steals and an assist with Kiral Tran shipping in three steals and two assists.

Allen Sawyer scored two goals and made a steal for the Lancers, and goalie Alexander Freeman made five blocks and two steals.

On Thursday, Sierra hosts Oakdale at Manteca at 5 p.m. and East Union hosts Ripon at 4 p.m.

The Timberwolves (3-1, 8-1 overall) scored the first eight goals of the girls match and never looked back.

“Today was a really good match,” Sierra coach Lauren Koury said. “We got to play a lot of our newbies and our beginners and we saw some good things there.

“We came off a 3-1 tournament this weekend and we have Oakdale on Wednesday and Buhach Colony on Thursday. We think that will be a pretty good game with Buhach.”

Peyton Nultemier led a fairly balanced Timberwolves attack with five goals and an assist.

“I only made one goal before today,” Nultemier said. The whole team worked really well together, and me and Charlene (Trinh) were really in sync. It was fun.”

Sierra goalie Keira Brink made seven blocks along with four steals and an assist, with one of her blocks coming on a penalty shot and another on a breakaway blast from inside the penalty box.

“Stopping a penalty shot is really the best feeling,” Brink said. “It’s just a one-on-one.”

Charlene Trinh helped pace the Timberwolves with a goal, four steals and an assist followed by Molly Allen (two goals, four assists, steal), Gianna Ramos (two goals, three assists and a steal), Mele Sanchez (two goals, two assists, steal), Olivia Knott (goal assists, steal), Kenidee Bauer (two goals), Alice Culpepper (goal, steal) and Bianca Fraser (two steals).

Ann Story scored both goals for East Union (0-3, 0-6) and Kylie Barker posted four goalie saves.

Sierra hosts Oakdale on Thursday at 4 p.m. and next Monday the Lancers host Sonora at 4 p.m.