PREP ROUNDUP: Spartans earn first victory

The East Nicolaus High volleyball team found the win column for the first time in 2012.

The Spartans took their Sacramento Valley League opener with a 25-16, 23-25, 25-11, 25-16 victory over Esparto at home.

Brooke Essary tallied a match-high 12 kills to go with four service aces for the Spartans (1-6, 1-0).

Macie Walker totaled seven kills with four blocks and Jan Navarro chipped in with three kills and four aces.

The Spartans' JV squad fell 2-0 with game scores of 25-18, 25-17. Savanna Bye led the way for East Nic with three aces, five digs and two kills.

River Valley 3, Laguna Creek 0

In Yuba City — Fresh off their first appearance in the Sacramento Bee's power rankings, the Falcons blanked the Cardinals 25-13, 25-6, 25-13.

RV (11-1) is at No. 20 in the latest poll with its only loss coming to No. 17 Casa Roble.

Taylor Massengale led the charge on Tuesday with nine kills, while McKenzie Skyberg dished out 11 assists.

Meaghan Bains and Amrita Dale each recorded five service aces and libero Sierra Pedley led the team with five digs.

The Falcons will host Wheatland on Thursday night in a rematch of the championship game at the Marysville Tournament held earlier this season.

Wheatland 3, Colusa 0

In Wheatland — The Pirates head into Thursday's matchup with River Valley on a solid 25-17, 25-11, 25-17 victory over the RedHawks.

Kiley DeCoster recorded seven kills and four aces. Kirstin Johnson amassed six kills and Kassidy Heuvelhorst added five kills and four aces for Wheatland (8-1).

The Pirates' JV team won 25-23, 33-35, 25-17.

Capital Christian 3, Marysville 1

In Marysville — The Indians dropped a Golden Empire League match to the Cougars at Lesta Joubert Gymnasium by game scores of 26-24, 25-19, 19-25, 25-12.

Reyna Williamson recorded seven kills, four digs and three assists. Candice Hugi added six kills, two blocks and three digs.

Morgan Cowan-Fayter tallied six kills with three digs, while Brooke Bigley amassed 30 digs to go with three assists for the Indians (4-5, 1-2).

The Indians' JV team (5-2, 2-1) won 25-21, 25-17 behind the play of Savanna Harris, who picked up six kills and nine assists. Kelsey Collins was solid with three aces and six assists.

Marysville's frosh team (2-2, 2-0) took down the Cougars 25-12, 27-25 as Diana Foster was stellar with 11 kills. Jasmine Cabrito chipped in 13 service aces and six digs.

Buckingham Charter 3, Faith Christian 0

In Vacaville — The Lions fell 25-19, 25-22, 25-12 on Monday.

Shon Ritchie had eight kills and four blocks at the net, Olivia Reed delivered five digs and Megan Evans had nine assists for Faith (4-7).

The Faith JV team topped Buckingham 25-17, 25-9 and improved to 7-0 overall this season.

Katie Jacenich and Abby Maddalena held down the fort at the net, while Alex Gaither led the way serving.

GIRLS TENNIS

Yuba City 6, Inderkum 3

In Sacramento — The Honkers opened Tri-County Conference play with a victory thanks to five singles wins.

Sophie Poukish (6-0, 6-1), Amanda Perry (6-2, 6-2), Kristen Kent (6-1, 6-1), Kendell Cheim (6-2, 6-0) and Anisha Gill (6-1, 6-1) all cruised to help Yuba City improve to 3-0 overall.

Lundon Fletcher and Kaitlyn Lovell teamed up to 6-2, 1-6 (10-4) in doubles.

Live Oak 9, Wheatland 0

In Wheatland — The Lions rolled another Northern Section foe, this time it was the Pirates.

Lucero Topete, Crystal Rodriguez, Aisha Khan, Clarissa Herrera and Lupe Chavez each won 6-0, 6-0, while Jacque Mullen let one game get away from her, winning 6-0, 6-1.

Topete and Chavez rolled 8-0, Khan and Mishu won 8-2 and Lindsey Hovey and Laura Vargas cruised 8-0.

Pioneer 5, River Valley 4

In Yuba City — The Falcons dropped their TCC opener to the Patriots.

Brenda Gupta picked up a 6-2, 7-6 victory in singles, while Katrina Abelino also won in singles (6-4, 6-2).

The team of Caitlyn Palmer and Vy Trinh were victorious 6-4, 6-1, while the tandem of Emily Nelson and Nia Palmer won 7-6, 6-1.

The Falcons (4-7, 0-1) also fell in a nonconference match on Monday at home to Pleasant Valley, 6-3.

Allison Sawyer, Cecilia Alvarez and Abelino each picked up singles victories.

Sawyer won 6-1, 6-2, Alvarez pulled out a 5-7, 6-4 (10-2) victory and Abelino won 1-6, 6-2 before her opponent retired in the loss for the Falcons.

GIRLS GOLF

Woodland 278, River Valley 310

In Woodland — Andi Richmond, Sylvia Chavez and Lea Richmond each shot a 58, but the Falcons fell in TCC play at Yolo Fliers Golf Club.

The two teams played the front nine holes where par was 36.

Mary Osborn and Cameron Brennan each shot a 68 to round out the scoring for River Valley (1-2).

BOYS SOCCER

Bear River 4, Marysville 2

In Marysville — The Indians struck first on a Nelson Vejar goal, but Bear River marched back to take the victory on Monday at Marks Field.

Vejar scored both goals, while Thomas Mehler and Neil Lingenfelter provided the assists for the Indians (6-2).

The Indians' JV team lost 2-0 and slipped to 0-2-1 on the season. Dakota Watson was credited with a quality play at keeper.

CROSS COUNTRY

Honkers compete at NU Invite

In Grass Valley — Yuba City competed at the prestigious Nevada Union Invitational on Saturday and received some solid performances from both its girls and boys teams.

In the small-school varsity girls race, senior Holly McAlister helped the Honkers to a sixth-place team finish by running the 3-mile course in 21 minutes, 41 seconds, good enough for 15th place and a medal.

Teammate Kate Aldridge ran a personal best of 22:15 to take 23rd.

Also helping the cause for YC were Kelsey Mincer (50th, 26:54), Elena Collins (51st, 27:00) and Harpreet Kaur (55th, 29:01).

In the varsity boys division, the Honkers' Matt Bailey led his teammates to an eigth-place team finish by taking 36th in a time of 19:49.

Teammates Shan Sarabia (45th, 21:21), Ali Adame (49th, 21:50), Riley Horan (50th, 21:54) and Jacob Sanchez (66th, 29:13) also competed for the Honkers.

JV FOOTBALL

River Valley 54, Marysvillle 0

In Marysville — T.J. Morrow had two touchdown runs and Dace Asher threw two TD passes as the Falcons past the Indians on Friday night.

Sam Van Dusen and Devin Cates both had interception returns for touchdowns, Marco Tica returned a fumble for a score and Jordan Greminger ran for a TD in the win for RV (3-0).