On the rare outing when the West Valley women's water polo team has been tested in NorCal in 2021, Coach Erika Vargas's Vikings have shown the ability to regroup and take over games.

Such was the case against Merced Friday in the opener of the Coast Crossover at Foothill College. A sluggish first quarter had the Vikings up only 6-5 and 11-7 at the half. West Valley (22-1, 7-0 Coast) gained their composure during the break, thanks, in part, to some verbal inspiration from Vargas, and outscored the Blue Devils (10-11, 2-2) 3-0 in the third and 7-1 in the fourth for a 21-8 win.

Johanna Scheer had a game-high seven goals and three steals, while Kianna Melvin and six goals and three steals. Marija Mijuskovic notched four goals, and Maria Higginbotham had a goal and three steals. Grace Smith had 13 saves to earn the win in goal.

The Vikings stayed hot in game two against Foothill (10-4-1, 2-1). WVC blanked the Owls 3-0 in the opening quarter and 6-0 in the third behind Scheer's seven goals and three steals. Melvin had six of WVC's 15 steals and found the back of the cage four times. Mijuskovic finished with three goals, while Higginbotham had a pair of scores and two steals. Scheer now leads the CCCAA with 87 goals, and Smith tops the state with 266 saves and a 72.5 save %.

The Vikings close out Coast competition Oct. 27 at Las Positas (1-3, 1-2) and then travel south to their annual Halloween date at the Santa Barbara Halloween Invitational this weekend.