Ripon High volleyball comeback falls just short in five-set loss to Tracy
It wasn’t on the schedule to begin the season, but a rematch between the Ripon High and Tracy High volleyball teams was in the works.
Not only is it where first-year head coach Casey Kresge spent her high school playing days, but the reigning Sac-Joaquin Section Division II runner-up and current No. 12 team in the section according to MaxPreps also gave No. 21 Ripon a chance to see where it measured up against a top nonleague opponent.
After being swept last year, it looked as though Ripon’s fate would be the same Thursday night, but down two sets, the Indians rallied. They forced a deciding fifth set but came up just short, falling in a top 25 matchup to the Bulldogs at home 26-24, 25-19, 22-25, 21-25, 15-7.
Ripon didn’t make it easy.
The team played from behind in nearly every set but fought back to put pressure on the Bulldogs, who entered the game on a five-game win streak.
After going down by six in the first set, seven in the second and five in the fourth, Ripon put together timely runs in each to either tie it late or take the lead.
“We have a lot of grit,” Kresge said. “We pushed ourselves to fight back. It would definitely be a lot easier for us if we started with that grit and energy, but I am proud of them. They kept that mental toughness through the end.”
On the brink of getting swept, Ripon played best when it had to.
With the third set tied at 12, the Indians went on a quick run that swung the momentum and gave them a 17-13 lead, forcing the Bulldogs to call a timeout. Ripon answered every point and though Tracy closed the gap to 22-20, the home team earned new life with a 25-22 third set win.
“That seems a lot more like my girls,” Kresge said. “I just saw a lot of trust on the court and communication.”
Ripon used its momentum from the third set to rally from a 16-11 hole in the fourth. An Indians 8-3 run tied the game at 19-19 and after a Tracy timeout, back-to-back aces from junior setter Kaya Whittaker helped them tie the match at two sets apiece.
Ripon fell into an early 8-3 hole which proved costly in the fifth set to 15. Senior outside hitter Chloe Lemons was dominant with 26 kills in the game for the Bulldogs and took over in the final frame. Tracy went to her any chance they had and she delivered with six kills.
“When there was a hole in the block or we were fading out, that’s when she rocked us,” Kresge said. “She’s a great player and played all the way around. We tried to serve at her and get her a little tired because she’s in there the whole time but she kept her spirits high so even when she was making a couple mistakes, she came back at us hot.”
Though it was in the middle of Ripon’s Trans Valley League schedule, Kresge said the game against Tracy served as a good tuneup for the tougher teams they will see as they go through the second half of league play. Junoir Kylee Fullmer led Ripon with 10 kills.
“We’re a team that likes to battle so playing teams like this really shows our team what we can work on moving forward,” Kresge said. “We know we’re gonna see a team like this again in Escalon. They show the same type of energy and skill level that Tracy does.
“Moving forward and through our season, I think they need to hold on to that toughness because we’re going to need that as we get more tired throughout our games. I’m proud of them for playing hard through it all.”
Stanislaus District Volleyball Scores
Kimball 3, Central Catholic 1
Oakdale 3, East Union 0
Ceres 3, Davis 0
Ripon Christian 3, Delhi 0
This story was originally published September 24, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
