The Valencia boys’ volleyball team has all the momentum on its side after the first half of the season as the Vikings have won 11 out their last 12 games, including a straight-set sweep over the West Ranch Wildcats on Tuesday, 25-18, 25-20, 26-24.
“I wasn’t too pleased with how we played, but I’m super happy,” Valencia head coach Brendan Riley said. “I just don’t think we played as well as we could have but super happy for the win.”
The Vikings (16-7, 6-0) defeated the Wildcats (6-12, 2-4) in the first two sets by comfortable margins.
But in the third set, the Wildcats rallied and forced a back-and-forth battle with the Vikings.
The Vikings rallied and held a 24-20 lead and were one point away from the sweep.
But mistakes cost the Vikings as the Wildcats rallied back to tie the set at 24 apiece after a blocking error from Valencia.
The Vikings secured the final two points they needed to get the win off a Wildcats’ service error and Dylan McFatridge kill to secure the overall win.
After the game, Riley said he was experimenting with the lineup to give as many people as possible playing time in the third set and wasn’t worried about the Wildcats’ comeback attempt.
“Fortunately, we had two sets to none, and I was trying to get as many guys in as I could,” he said. “So, I wasn’t too worried about that.”
With the win, the Vikings completed the first half of Foothill League play with a 6-0 record and will look to keep up the strong pace of play on the road Thursday at Hart High School against the Hawks.
West Ranch will look to win on Tuesday at home against the visiting Castaic Coyotes.
Both games are set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
After Tuesday’s games, here are scores from around the Foothill League:
Saugus 3, Castaic 1: After winning the Chatworth Invitational over the weekend, the Centurions (19-8, 4-2) returned to Foothill League play with a four-set win over the Castaic Coyotes (12-8, 1-5), 26-24, 25-19, 26-28, 25-18.
The Centurions have won their last five games and will hit the road on Thursday against the Cowboys at Canyon High School.
The loss dropped the Coyotes to 1-5 in league play and they will look to rebound on Thursday at matchup against the Golden Valley Grizzlies.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.
Canyon 3, Hart 0: The Canyon Cowboys (19-8, 4-2) swept the visiting Hart Hawks (7-9, 3-3), 25-19, 15-19, 25-20.
With the win, the Cowboys have won four straight league games since losing the first two and will look to build upon their momentum on Thursday against the Saugus Centurions at home.
The Hawks will look to bounce back at home on Thursday and host the visiting Valencia Vikings.
Both games are set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
