The Varsity Girls’ Volleyball team knocked off two key opponents last week, bringing their season record up to 7-3. The Defenders defeated both Bishop Amat and local rival St. Joseph’s in straight sets to wrap up a successful week.
The match against Bishop Amat last Tuesday started intense, with both teams keeping the score close and playing solid defense, but the Defenders won two long rallies at the end to take the first set 27-25.
After that it was all Defenders, taking the next two sets 25-15, 25-8. They were led by senior outside hitter Tessa Dobmeier with 22 kills and senior middle blocker Brooklyn Warner contributed 5 kills, 5 aces and 3 blocks. Senior outside hitter Jenna Van Kampen had a solid all-around game, finishing with 14 digs, 5 kills, 2 blocks and 2 aces.
The Defenders continued their solid play on Thursday against St. Joseph’s, defeating the Jesters in straight sets 25-23, 25-11, 25-20. The first set was close, but Warner closed out the set with tough serving, getting two key aces in the final points of the set, finishing the match with four aces.
The offense was led again by Dobmeier who tallied 19 kills in the match, but the key to the game was the defense and serving. Senior middle blocker Sydney Osterman totalled six blocks with Warner and Van Kampen getting three blocks each. Van Kampen led in digs with 15, and senior libero Anika Visser contributed eight.
The Defenders take on rival Ontario Christian at home on Tuesday, then travel south for the La Jolla Tournament on Sept. 11 and 12. The team’s only losses have all come from teams currently ranked in the top 25, and with the two wins this week, Valley is currently ranked #56 in California, according to Max Preps.