Week 2 & 3 Recap: Renegades Improve to 7-2 Record

The first three weeks of the fall 2022 season have been a roller coaster to say the least. After taking the Napa Valley Classic Tournament on September 1, The Renegades would find out the next day that seven volleyball players on the Renegades roster would need to quarantine for 10 days due to a positive COVID test from an opponent and possible exposure to that athlete. The Ohlone College Classic Tournament that was scheduled for Friday, September 3 was immediately canceled, and it was likely that the following 5 matches would also need to be canceled per Ohlone's COVID protocols. But after further review of the match film, it was ruled that no close contact was made and the Renegades could resume activity. 

West Hills Classic

Week 2 on the Renegades schedule was looking tough from the beginning, having two tournaments and a single match (five matches total) scheduled within four days. The week began with a visit to Coalinga for the West Hills Classic. The Renegades would take on the host Falcons in the first match up, and they would take an early lead in the match by taking set 1. However, the Falcons would come out firing in sets 2 and 3, taking both sets convincingly by 11 and 9 points respectively and tallying a combined 29 kills in both sets. The Renegades would rebound in set 4 with their defense and serve receive, holding the Falcons to only 8 kills and a hitting percentage of -0.138 and forcing a fifth and deciding set. Both teams would go point for point to the very end of the last set, but it was the Renegade defense that would ultimately take them to the top, tallying a total 81 digs and 8 blocks and giving the Renegades the fifth and deciding set. 

The second match of the tournament would be against the Mustangs of Los Medanos. Despite the Mustangs fire power led by hitter Jontara West (10 kills), the Renegades would have another quality defensive showing, holding West to a hitting percentage of 0.081. Led by setter Ruby Santos (15 digs) and hitter Clare Mannion Deal (3 blocks), the Renegades would go on to tally 57 digs and 7 blocks as a team to take the match in straight sets. 

Diablo Valley Classic

This year's DVC Classic was actually being hosted by College of Marin this year while DVC finishes their gym renovation. But the change in venue didn't stop the momentum the Renegades had built to start the week. Although defense had been their game to start the season, it was the offensive efficiency of hitters Gabriella Sanguinetti (0.316 hitting percentage) and Marlene-Alexia Perez de Vilchez (0.500 hitting percentage) that led the way and would take the Renegades to victory in straight sets. 

In the final match of the night, the Renegades would take on the host Mariners of College of Marin. Each of the sets played for this match were close all throughout, including lead changes multiple times throughout each set. The Mariner defense would not let anything drop as they tallied a total of 69 digs for the match. But it was the Renegades attack that would take them over the top. The Renegades would go on to tally 7 services aces and force 11 receive errors from the Mariners, and hitter Leilani Rodriguez would lead the way in hitting percentage with a 0.571 out of the middle position. The Renegades would go on to take the match in straight sets and win the DVC classic for the fourth straight year. 

Home Opener Versus Cuesta College

With the Ohlone College Classic getting canceled (postponed to September 27), this match versus Cuesta College would serve as the Renegades home opener. It would also mark the first time in recent history the Renegades would take on an opponent from the southern region in regular season play. Unfortunately, it wouldn't go as they would have hoped. Both teams would exchange points throughout the first set, with each team even earning a set point towards the end. Ultimately, the Cougars would squeak out a first set win in extras, taking the set 27-25. Although the Renegades would try to keep it close, the hitting of Cuesta's Whitney Thompson (12 kills, 0.476 hitting percentage) and the Cougar block (11) would earn them the straight sets win to spoil the Renegades home opener. 

Cosumnes River Classic

The final competition of the three week roller coaster would end in Sacramento. The first match up would be against the host Hawks of Cosumnes River. The set would start with both teams exchanging points through different errors, Midway through the set, the Hawks would string a bunch of kills together led by Miah Williamson. The Renegades would take a time out after the initial offensive run, but Williamson's offense combined with the Renegades compounding errors would have the Hawks take the first set 25-16. Although the Renegades would make the following two sets close, Williamson (15 kills, 0.520 hitting percentage) along with the offense of Maddy Motta (8 kills, 0.389 hitting percentage) and Micah Stinson (10 kills, 0.238 hitting percentage) would be too much for the Renegades to handle as the Hawks took the match in straight sets. 

For the third straight year, the Renegades would take on the Pirates of Modesto Junior College, this time on a neutral court after previously visiting Modesto for prior competitions. The difference from this year to previous years would be the length of the match. In the previous two match ups, the Pirates and Renegades had gone the distance with both matches finishing on exciting fifth and deciding sets. Renegades hitter Clare Mannion Deal was not going to let that happen this year, leading the way with 14 kills, 0.265 hitting percentage, and a total of 18 points scored to lead everyone in the match. The Renegades would beat the Pirates in straights sets to finish the week, and will enjoy a much needed rest with no matches for the rest of the week. 

The Renegades improve to a 7-2 record and move up two spots to NorCal #12 in the CCCWVCA State Rankings. The Renegades are off for the rest of the week and take on Solano College in historic Epler Gymnasium on Wednesday, September 22 at 6pm. No spectators are allowed for home matches at this time, but the match will be livestreamed through our Ohlone Volleyball YouTube Channel.