Coyotes grab win over Broncos
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera’s Marcos Ramos goes up for a block during Thursday’s four-set win over Clovis North.
After a two-set loss five days before to the Clovis North Broncos, the Madera Coyotes boys volleyball team bounced back with a 3-1 match win in Joe Flores Gym.
At the San Luis Obispo Tournament on March 10, the Coyotes lost 25-15, 25-18 to the Broncos. Five days later, the Coyotes returned the favor in a match win, 20-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-15 Thursday evening.
“It’s awesome to get this win,” head coach Rhonda Jefferson said. “The match win is worth more than a win in the tournament. They dominated us in the tournament so it was nice for us to get the rebound.”
Madera’s front line dominated the Broncos. The combination of Brian Garcia, Marcos Ramos, Hunter Brown and Ali Escheik combined for 48 kills. Garcia led the team with 20 kills.
“Our blockers adjusted,” Jefferson said. “We were blocking line, but they are hitting hard angle. After we adjusted the block and moved over, our defense moved over.”
The Coyotes back line of Charlie Hernandez, Jose Hordaz and Seth Valencia, along with Garcia, recorded 69 digs.
The first set started kind of like Saturday’s matches began with the Broncos taking the early lead and extending the lead to 16-10 before the Coyotes started to make their move.
Three straight Clovis North errors cut the Broncos’ lead to three. Clovis North added two more points before Valencia served up a point to get within three. Clovis North added an ace for a 23-17 lead.
After a Ramos serve, Hernandez served up two more points to cut the Broncos’ lead to two, but Clovis North blocked Madera on set point for a 25-20 win.
The second set began with Clovis North unable to return a Garcia serve after hitting the Joe Flores Gym rafters. A Ramos kill and two serves from Cameron Fowler opened a 6-3 lead.
Escheik put down a kill for a side out. Clemente Flores put down a kill, Garcia recorded a solo block and combined with Esheik for a dual block and Ribhi Abdallah served up another point for a five-point run for an 11-5 lead.
Brown put down a soft kill to open the lead to seven. Despite side out kills from Garcia and Ramos and a dual block by Fowler and Brown, the Broncos cut Madera’s lead to four.
Escheik put down a side out kill and Garcia added a kill for a 20-14 lead. Side out kills from Escheik, Brown and Garcia gave the Coyotes a 23-17 lead.
With Garcia serving, Brown and Ramos put down kills for a 25-18 victory.
“The first set, we made all the mistakes,” Jefferson said. “Once we settled down and settled our defense, the offense came.”
In the second set, Ramos put down a side out kill. Flores put down a kill and Ramos had a tip kill for a 5-3 lead. Clovis North came back to tie the set at six before the Coyotes went on a six-point run.
Escheik started the run with a side out kill. Garcia recorded a solo block and Abdallah served up a point. Garcia put down a kill and blocked a Broncos’ attack. Escheik also had a solo block and Madera led 12-6.
The Coyotes got side out kills from Ramos and Brown and a dual block from Escheik and Garcia for a 17-10 lead.
Clovis North cut the Coyotes’ lead to 19-16. Valencia served up a point, but Clovis North got the serve back down to three before a Brown side out kill.
Garcia combined with Fowler for a dual block and Brown put down a kill to get to set point. After a service error, Brown put down a kill that found an open spot on the Clovis North side for the 25-20 victory.
Fowler served up a point to help a four-point run in the third set Flores put down a side out kill, Escheik had a solo block and Ramos put down another kill for a 6-4 lead.
After a Clovis North service error, Flores had a solo block and Garcia put down a kill.
Clovis North cut the lead to two before Garcia put down a side out kill. The two teams exchanged 10 straight side outs with the Coyotes leading 16-13. In the run, Fowler and Ramos had side out kills and Ramos combined with Escheik for a block.
Valencia then served up seven straight points to give the Coyotes a 10-point lead. Garcia and Brown put down kills in the run for a 23-13 lead.
After a Coyotes had a service error, Escheik put down a kill to get to match point.
After another Coyotes’ service error, Clovis North hit a ball into the net to give the Coyotes a 25-15 victory and the match win.
Madera opens County/Metro Athletic Conference play Thursday against Sanger.
