MENIFEE – The Paloma Valley Wildcats continued their impressive run, securing their sixth consecutive victory with a 3-1 nonleague win over the Hillcrest Trojans on Thursday, Sept. 19. This victory mirrored their last encounter with Hillcrest back in September 2017, also ending in Paloma Valley’s favor.
The match provided plenty of excitement, with set scores of 25-19, 22-25, 25-14, and 25-21. While the Wildcats dominated the third set, they had to dig deep in the others to edge out a tough Hillcrest squad.
Paloma Valley’s standout performances included contributions from multiple players. Lara V. Martinez was selected as the player of the match for her all-around performance. Juniors Lauren Kendall and Baylie Moore each tallied 8 kills, providing crucial attacks throughout the sets. Deziree Garcia, another junior, showcased her defensive skills with 6 blocks, while seniors Grace Liesemeyer and Hannah Welch added to the defensive efforts with 23 and 13 digs, respectively.
With this victory, Paloma Valley improves to a 14-4 record for the season, having won seven of their last eight games. This impressive run has positioned them well for their next matchup against the Hemet Bulldogs. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 5:30 p.m. The Wildcats will be looking to capitalize on Hemet’s recent struggles, as the Bulldogs are currently on a three-game losing streak and coming off a close 3-2 league loss to Rancho Christian (Temecula, CA). Hemet’s record now stands at 9-8, which could make for an interesting contest.
Hillcrest, on the other hand, saw their six-game winning streak come to an end with this loss, leaving them with a 9-3 record. Despite the setback, the Trojans put up a strong fight and demonstrated their capability to challenge top teams in the area.
Looking ahead, Paloma Valley will aim to extend their winning streak and continue their strong season. The upcoming match against Hemet presents an opportunity for the Wildcats to further solidify their position and momentum in the Ivy League as they move deeper into the season.
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