Vikings tame Wolverines in battle of conference leaders

Rene Wash teamed with Katrina Hochmuth for a big win in the 2's (WVC Athletics file photo)
Rene Wash teamed with Katrina Hochmuth for a big win in the 2's (WVC Athletics file photo)

In a battle of the top teams in the Coast and Big 8 conferences, the West Valley beach volleyball team smacked Sierra 4-1 Wednesday in Rocklin. The Vikings (10-6, 6-1 Coast) swept three of the five pairs matches against the Wolverines (8-4, 4-0 Big 8), with the only loss coming in a tense three-set thriller in the 1's. Viking 4's Claire Danna and Gabriela Valencia stayed unbeaten with a 25-23, 16-21, 15-12 win over Alex Cook and Ashley Almond. Lizhya Shoomoonof and Elizabeth McGrath swept Gabby Roberts and Cloe Hunter 22-20, 21-11 to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead after the first round. Kayla Keller and Hannah Reynoso took a 21-18, 21-10 3's win over Maddy Meteer and Jasmine Dean to clinch the match, while Katrina Hochmuth and Rene Wash came up with a huge 22-20, 21-17 win over Sarah Shively and Kapri Pele in the 2's. Viking 1's Mapuhola Sekona and Kaylin Henderson lost their first match of 2019 to Haley Biles and Meghan Merlino 20-22, 21-10, 13-15. West Valley left Rocklin with a 5-0 sweep of Marin in the late match. Wins went to: (1's) Sekona/Henderson over Sarah Harris/Alejandra Leon 21-8, 21-11; (2's) Hochmuth/Wash over Amber Proctor/Kirsta Rodriguez-McKee 21-12, 21-12; (3's) Keller/Reynoso over Khadeejia Marcum/Maggie Johnson 21-7, 21-6; (4's) Danna/Valencia over Ashley Chanthongthip/Nattasia Ferrin 21-11, 21-5; (5's) McGrath/Shoomoonof default.