First-game struggles doom varsity volleyball in league matches

By Joe Naiman

Ramona High School varsity volleyball team lost three game matches Oct. 11 at Torrey Pines and Oct. 13 at home against Westview, playing better in the second and third games of both than in the first games.

“We improved,” said Coach Connie Halfaker.

Torrey Pines beat Ramona by 25-4, 25-12, and 25-14 scores.

“Game one I don’t know if the girls were just wide-eyed,” Halfaker said. “They settled down and by game three I felt like they were playing well. There was rallying going on. We got a lot of touches on blocks. We put back a lot of balls, so that was really good.”

Halfaker also noted that her players chased down balls during the final game.

Abby Roulier led the Bulldogs with seven kills while setter Mikayla Derochie had 15 assists and libero Nicole Darrough produced five digs. Kelsie Whitten had Ramona’s only block during the match while Alexis Sharpe provided the Bulldogs with their only serving ace.

Ramona’s first game against Westview was a 25-13 loss.

“The wheels basically fell off the bus,” Halfaker said.

The Wolverines completed the sweep with 25-18 and 25-20 wins.

“We finally started playing well in game three. It was about 10 to 20,” Halfaker said.

Darrough had 22 digs against Westview. Derochie and Samantha Waelchli each had one ace against the Wolverines with Waelchli recording the Bulldogs’ only block and Derochie providing 21 assists. Jenna Hickle led Ramona with six kills.

The losses gave Ramona a 7-10 season record along with a league mark of 0-4.

The Bulldogs host Poway Thursday and travel to East County for this weekend’s Southern California Invitational tournament.