by Dennis McCall
Taft Midway Driller
Taft College kept a share of second place in the Central Valley Conference volleyball chase Wednesday night with a sweep of visiting Porterville College.
By winning 25-12, 25-16, 25-16 the Cougars stayed in second place tied with Reedley at 7-2. Defending eight-time champion Fresno kept its perfect conference record in tact by sweeping College of the Sequoias.
TC is in Coalinga tonight to play West Hills College (1-8 CVC, 1-10 overall) and Monday travels to Reedley for another pivotal conference match.
Against Porterville the Cougars' level of play was spotty but enough to overpower the mistake-prone Pirates.
"We still haven't recovered from that horrible match at Sequoias," head coach Kanoe Bandy said. "It's frustrating. We play so well in practice but we're just not transferring that to games."
She was referring to being swept by Sequoias in Visalia last Friday.
"That was one of the ugliest performances I've ever seen. If we just play how we practice we'll be fine. Right now we're just not doing that."
The team also is adjusting to life without sophomore captain and outside hitter Nalani Kekuawela, who has been sidelined with Valley Fever.
Again, the Cougars spread the wealth around on offense.
Bailey Jensen led the attacks with 9 kills followed by Skye Parker with 7, Payton Spragling and Skyler Taumua 5 each, Madison Griffith 4 and Courtnie Perry and Virgie Salanoa-Sagapolu 1 apiece.
Spragling sparked the defensive effort with 16 digs followed by libero Halle Neher with 14. Griffith had 8, Janell Molina 7, Bailey San Augustin-Nordmeier and Kamalani Kahele 6 each, Taumua 4, Parker 3 and Jensen 2.
Setter Griffith tossed up 25 assists.
Parker blocked 6 shots, Griffith 2 and Jensen, Sagapolu and Parker 1 each.