Lathrop finally got the best of Beyer on Monday, ending the Patriots’ streak of Western Athletic Conference victories with a 25-20, 25-13, 25-19 sweep at home.
The Spartans’ last win over the three-time defending champion came on Oct. 8, 2019. That was also also the last time Beyer had lost a conference match, not counting the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The Patriots’ win streak ended at 42.
Lathrop (7-0, 12-4 overall) now stands alone in first place at the midway point of the WAC schedule.
“After losing to them over and over again these last three years, this feels really good,” senior outside hitter Elizabeth Andrade said. “It’s a really big accomplishment. Out team worked well together, and this is the best we’ve ever played, I think.”
The third-year varsity starter led the Spartans’ attack with 16 kills.
Junior setter Ayden Petroff produced 27 assists and seven aces. She netted a whopping 19 service points, stringing together tone-setting runs in the first two sets.
Beyer (6-1, 9-4) registered the first two points of the match, but Lathrop countered by scoring 12 straight with the jump-serving Petroff putting away five aces in the process. She later opened the second set with a seven-point service run.
“Sometimes it does (get tiring), but I just remind myself to take breaths, relax and take your time on the service line,” Petroff said. “I just put all of my faith in the team.”
Libero Justine Mabutas headed the defense with 17 digs. Sophomore opposite hitter Erin Chunn pitched in with five kills.
Siliana Fa’ataualofa contributed four kills, eight digs and a solo block on Beyer’s top hitter Amia Dancer (13 kills) that helped the Spartans maintain momentum early in the third set.
To their credit, the Patriots mounted some scoring flurries of their own to make things interesting. In game 1, Beyer clawed back with a 9-2 spurt to close in, 21-18, forcing Lathrop coach Toa Fa’ali’i to burn both of his timeouts.
Fa’ataualofa stopped the bleeding with a timely kill, then went to the service line and scored on an ace. Andrade set the Spartans’ up with game point with a spike down the line, and middle blocker Shakara Porter clinched it with a block on an over pass.
Beyer threatened to extend the match when it led the third set, 19-18. Lathrop scored the final seven points, with Genesis Contreras servicing six in a row.
“The whole time, from the beginning of the season to now, this was the moment the team has been prepping for,” Fa’ali’i said. “I’m so excited for the girls. The past three years, it was always Beyer coming out on a top, so it was nice to finally get them. Everybody played well. It was a team win.”
Junior varsity
Beyer 2, Lathrop 0
The Patriots from Modesto escaped with the 25-22, 25-21 win.
Leading Lathrop was Araya Carson with seven kills, five digs and two aces. Vivianna Salcedo had 10 assists.
