Soccer

Tracy 0, West 0

The first Tracy-West cross-town soccer match ended in a tie Wednesday at Tracy High. The defense turned out to be the key on both sides of the field as teams battled for an advantage. Both the Bulldogs and the Wolf Pack defenders got back in position quickly any time the ball changed possession, and the few chances for clear shots were blocked by the teams’ goal keepers.

“The West defense played pretty tight. The more we play them the more they know how we play,” Tracy’s Eric Bui said, adding that the Wolf Pack defense was quick to jump on any Tracy advances near the goal. “Whenever I ran in pressure they’d just clear the ball and get it out.”

West forward Jefferey deGa said he was disappointed that he didn’t get any clear shots, but his teammates still got chances a couple times even when Tracy got its defense in position ahead of West.

“They’re a tough team but we worked very well up top today, so it was easy to get past them with good passing and one-touches,” he said.

Coaches said it was the type of competition they look forward to in a crosstown game.

“It was a pretty exciting game for a 0-0 game,” West coach Nate Perry said. “It was a wide open game. It was back-and-forth. There were a lot of chances both ways and both defenses played really well.”

“We were both pushing and trying to get that goal. Neither of us really wanted a tie,” Tracy coach Phil Kalis said. “We’re pleased with the result. We haven’t given up a goal this year.”

Volleyball

West 3, Kimball 1

In their second official game of the season the West High volleyball team overcame an early deficit in the first set to beat Kimball 25-22, 17-25, 25-17, 25-23.

West coach Christine Toon said the first week of competition, which started with an unofficial game on Monday against Manteca, is a matter of seeing where players fit in on the court.

“They’re working the kinks out and getting a little more consistent,” she said. “I try different people and move people around to see what’s going to work.”

So far senior Analisa Green has been effective at the net with seven kills on Wednesday. She also had four aces. Lisia Tangi also was strong at the net with three kills, and Nani Nicanor led her team at the service line with four aces.

It was the first game for Kimball after Monday’s California Interscholastic Federation Foundation game.

“We’ve improved, but there’s still a lot of room to improve,” Kimball coach Mila Iosefa said. He noted that the Jaguar team kept the match close at the end, and the big improvements will come once the team cuts down on the unforced errors.

Team strength’s included libero Jhoann Romero, and Montanna Bradley’s efforts as a setter helped the team score. Iosefa also credited Krista Parker with her contribution at the net as a blocker.

The win for West follows the Wolf Pack’s 3-0 win Tuesday at Johansen High with sets of 25-6, 25-16, 25-6.

Also on Wednesday, the Kimball sophomore team beat West 25-22, 25-13, and the The Kimball freshmen won in two sets, 25-14, 25-13.

Tennis

West 5, Bear Creek 0

The Wolf Pack tennis team (3-0) swept all five matches against the Bruins at Bear Creek High on Wednesday. West’s singles players didn’t give up a single game, as Emma Bell beat Emily Xing, Tiful Koul beat Mao Vang and Angie Juan beat Adina Sasson, all with scores of 6-0, 6-0. West’s number-one doubles team also logged a shut out as Ashley Vergel de Dios and Lesley Baires beat Kelley Weaver and Kathy Vang 6-0, 6-0. In the number-two doubles Allison Pokorny and Kristen Steed beat Kim Nguyen and Ut Hiynh 6-0, 6-3.

West plays next at Tracy High on Thursday.

Sierra 11.5, Kimball 3.5

Kimball High’s tennis team started Valley Oak League competition Tuesday with a loss at Sierra High in Manteca. The VOL uses a round-robin format, with one six-game set each among three singles players from each team, and one 10-game set each between each of two doubles teams.

Kimball singles players Andrea Candalla and Krishna Sankara each won one, Candalla going 1-6, 5-7, 7-6; and Sankara going 2-6, 1-6, 6-4. Aloukika Shah went 0-6, 0-6, 1-6. Doubles team Perliza Delgado and Kiana Amirehsani got one win, going 1-10, 10-6; and Natasha Cardosa and Tara Adeniran went 1-10, 0-10.

The Jaguars play next on Thursday at home against Manteca High.