The Wilson girls’ volleyball team lost to Millikan last year, the first time that had happened in a decade–and it was obvious that it didn’t sit well with the Bruins. Tuesday afternoon’s match between the Bruins and Rams was ostensibly to decide who’d be sitting in third place after the first round of league play, but because of last year’s split series it carried the weight of a serious rivalry. It was Wilson who prevailed on their home court, winning 25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 25-21.
“It feels good to get this win,” said Wilson coach Carlos Briceno. “This team has so much potential–I know we can get to that next level. We just have to keep getting better.”
The Bruins and Rams split the first two sets before Wilson asserted itself in the third and fourth to close it out, something that came as a relief to the team’s leaders.
“Coming in I think we really had something to prove to them, and to each other,” said Gabby Sonnhalter, who led Wilson with 19 kills and 15 digs.
“We’re the better team, and it felt good to show it,” said Wilson’s Presley Parker, who had 14 kills and a match-high 21 digs.
The Bruins’ 6-2 system allowed setters Riley White and Jaedyn Gonzalez to find Sonnhalter and Parker on the pins, letting them pound away against a good Millikan defense.
The Rams got a strong performance from setter Anna Becker, who had 36 assists. She found Mina Barajas for 11 kills and Faith Jones in the middle for nine kills, while Kaela Jones had 15 digs.
Wilson also got eight kills from Risa Sena and six from Samiya Terry.
Wilson visits Jordan Wednesday while Millikan will host Compton.
