Pitman volleyball casts new names in starring roles

The Pitman High School volleyball team won’t rest on its laurels. Not when there’s work to be done.

The Pride enjoyed a historic season in 2014, steamrolling its way to Central California Conference and Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championships. Pitman parlayed that success into a Northern California title, earning a berth in the CIF State Division I final in Orange County.

Pitman was swept in the final, but it took the country’s No. 2-ranked team – Redondo Union – to finally cool coach Kristen Pontes-Christian’s program.

The big names from that squad are gone, chasing new glory in the collegiate ranks. Two-time CCC Most Valuable Player Lindsey Vander Weide is a free-swinging finisher in her first year at Oregon, averaging 2.69 kills per set for the undefeated Ducks, while setter Maddy Halteman is at Fresno State.

Those two left the bar high on Christoffersen Road.

So far, the new cast – led by sophomore hitter Whitney Barnes and junior setter Kiyanna Torres – have raised their games, carrying the Pride past traditional small-school powers to start the season.

Barnes and Kaylene Ureno recorded double-digit kills, and Torres had a match-high 27 assists as the Pride swept Escalon 25-10, 25-18, 25-20 in its season opener Tuesday.

That victory followed a sweep of defending Trans-Valley League champion Hilmar in a Foundation Game, an unofficial match that raises money for the section’s scholarship fund.

Barnes had 15 kills against Escalon, while Ureno had 10. Kaylin Randhawa had three blocks and two aces, and Lauren Solis finished with a team-high six digs. Yisel Perez also had two blocks.

Barnes, Ureno, Solis and Perez helped fuel Pitman’s run to the state championship, filling those spaces between Vander Weide and Halteman’s moments of brilliance. Solis led the team in service points, while Perez and Barnes were among four players with 100 or more kills.

Kylee Irwin-Paz did her best to carry Escalon with nine digs, seven kills and three blocks. Cydney Keener doled out 17 assists and one ace, and Natalie Bianchi and Maddie Nicholas had nine digs apiece.

Pitman won’t shy away from regional competition. The Pride hosts Enochs on Thursday and travels to Oakdale next week.

Boys soccer

Central Valley 3, Merced 3 – Central Valley is off to an uncharacteristically slow start, matching its loss total from last season in the first two weeks.

The schedule hasn’t helped. The perennial Western Athletic Conference and Sac-Joaquin Section contender slipped to 1-2-1 after drawing with Merced, a former Division I champion. Angel Aguilar, Roberto Perez and David Montanez tallied goals for the Hawks, and goalie Cristian Gonzales had six saves.

Central Valley has losses to Turlock and Galt – a Division IV semifinalist a year ago – and will host Hughson Husky Cup champion Modesto on Thursday.

Tracy 3, Sierra 2 – Israel Olivares blistered the Timberwolves’ defense for three goals, including a rocket shot in the fifth minute. Sierra (2-3) has now lost three straight after outscoring its opponents 10-1 in its first two games. Pedro Maciel and Zimri Rico found the back of the net for the Timberwolves, who yielded two penalty kicks.

Golden Valley 4, Beyer 0 – Four players found the back of the net for Golden Valley, which remained unbeaten. Cruz Melgarejo, Sergio Valencia, Marcos Gutierrez and Sergio Soltero scored for the Cougars (4-0-1). The game got away from Beyer early. The Patriots trailed 3-0 at the half.

Girls golf

Enochs 220, Davis 332 – Alyse Padilla navigated Creekside Golf Course and rolled into the clubhouse at 1 over par, setting the tone for a balanced lineup in the Modesto Metro Conference opener. All five scoring members finished with sub-50 rounds for the Eagles (1-0), highlighted by Padilla’s 37.

Hilmar 248, Hughson 265 – Senior Makena Azevedo lifted Hilmar (1-0) to a season-opening victory with a match-low 46 at Turlock Golf and Country Club. Hughson (0-1) was paced by Iliana Ramos’ 61.

Sonora 205, Calaveras 242 – Amanda Mena shot a 48 and Megan Popovich a 49 to anchor the Wildcats (1-0) in their season debut at Mountain Springs. Kaylyn Hedstrom led Calaveras (0-1) with a 51.

Ceres 240, Patterson 257 – Hannah Smith (52) and Monika Ramirez (56) led the charge for the Bulldogs in their Western Athletic Conference opener, but Patterson’s Tatianna Tafoya claimed the medalist honor with a match-low 50 at Diablo Grande Golf Course.

Girls tennis

Central Catholic 6, Manteca 3 – The reigning Valley Oak League champion Raiders nearly swept the singles matches to dispatch the chief threat to their throne. Amie Ardis, Anna Ballatore, Faith Masellis and Rosella Rangel – the Raiders’ top four singles players, in that order – earned straight-sets victories as Central Catholic passed an early test in the VOL. The Buffaloes, paced by decorated seniors Elizabeth Tolbert and Katie Inderbitzin, won VOL titles in 2012 and ’13.

Modesto 6, Merced 3 – The Panthers collected a nonconference victory thanks to a dominating effort by their doubles teams. The pairings of Sophia Furtado and Olivia Coyle, Elizabeth Cardenas and Laila In, and Sammy Guan and Henna Basi each recorded victories, providing the separation in a match deadlocked at 3 after singles.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 10:17 AM with the headline "Pitman volleyball casts new names in starring roles."