Napa Valley College volleyball gets team-wide contributions in loss to Yuba College

Photos: The Napa Valley College volleyball team played at home on Wednesday night, facing Yuba College-Marysville, in a Bay Valley Conference match.

Photos by Marty James

By MARTY JAMES

martyjames.sports@gmail.com

Scott Bishop, Napa Valley College's head volleyball coach, is seeing some very good play from the team's six sophomores. It's a group that consists of Adelina Avila-Navarro (libero/defensive specialist), Rylee Santos (setter), Caitlin Kenney (middle blocker/right-side hitter), Ava Pendelton (outside hitter/defensive specialist), Willow Diamond (middle blocker/right-side hitter) and Sydnee Coulthrust (setter).

"Our sophomores have had a chance to just grow and develop and build on everything that they walked in with as freshmen," said Bishop. "They're showing some really good leadership. Excited to have all of them. For them, just heading into this season with a lot more confidence and consistency."

Bishop is also seeing some very good play from the team's three freshmen. It's a group that consists of Aly Watty (setter), Keana Resultay (defensive specialist/outside hitter) and America Hernandez (libero/defensive specialist).
"All three of our freshmen are really impacting the game," said Bishop. "Ally is being asked a lot to set and be one of our most utilized hitters at the same time as well. She's doing a great job. Keana and America are both holding down their roles really well and having multiple opportunities to impact the game. So, happy they're able to contribute."

Napa Valley got team-wide contributions in a 3-0 Bay Valley Conference loss to Yuba College-Marysville on Wednesday night.

The Storm lost the match in three sets, 25-18, 25-20, 25-21.

The Storm also had their two-game winning streak end.

"It was great we had everyone available. And it was great being able to utilize the full roster. Everyone came in and contributed and impacted the game. So, that was great," said Bishop.

Napa Valley (2-11 overall, 2-3 Bay Valley Conference) stayed right in the match, accumulating points in all areas.

"I thought we saw some really good competitive spirit," said Bishop. "I thought Yuba did a great job of being consistent, really having a good block and good hustle. They were setting a high bar tonight for just the level of play needed to kind of compete out there.

"I think we found some good competitive energy. Just looking to execute a little more efficiently."

Napa Valley trailed in the first set, 14-12, 15-13, 19-15.

Napa Valley was ahead in the second set, 9-4, 10-8, 12-10, 15-13, 16-14. The Storm was behind in the set, 18-16, 19-17, 20-19, 21-20.

The Storm was in the lead in the third set, 11-10, and it was tied, 11-11 and 12-12.

Napa Valley closed to within two points, 23-21.

"I think we executed fairly well. We just need to do it at a higher rate," said Bishop. "What are some next steps for us to be able to do that? I think we need to serve-receive, pass just a little better and continue to mix up our shots. And just be more efficient in a lot of the good things that we're doing."

Napa Valley was led in the second set by Resultay (three service aces), Pendelton (kill, service ace), Diamond (service ace, kill), and Watty (kill).

Napa Valley was led in the third set by Kenney (three kills, block), Watty (service ace), Pendelton (block), and Hernandez (service ace).

"We had some really good rallies out there. It was fairly evenly matched I think in just the level of play. We just need to score a few more points," said Bishop.

"We're still seeing good improvement, good energy, a good flow out there. It was good to kind of see where we need to rise."

Yuba (5-11 overall, 4-1 Bay Valley) is in second place and Napa Valley is in fifth place in the conference standings.

Leading Yuba was Jocelyn Ramos (two digs), Nyla Afato (six kills, two digs, four block assists, nine points), Karizma Faupula (13 set assists, six digs, two block assists, two points), Fatima Cano (11 kills, three service aces, nine digs, 14.5 points), Brooklyn Hall (six kills, three solo blocks, nine points), JoeyMarie Ward (seven kills, seven digs, 8.5 points), Allie Wills (six digs), and Sanaa Mikaele (four kills, 15 set assists, two service aces, five digs, six points).

Napa Valley's next match is on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at home against Solano Community College-Fairfield at 6 p.m.

* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.