by Dennis McCall
Taft Midway Driller

Chelsea Wong had 17 kills to pace Taft College's Central Valley volleyball sweep of visiting Merced College Wednesday night in the Al Baldock Cougar Sports Center.

It was sophomore night with all six of the Cougars' second-year players seeing maximum playing time.

"All of our sophomores were on the court when we finished the match and you seldom get a chance to do that," said head coach Kanoe Bandy, whose team wraps up its season tonight with a visit to second place Reedley.  The Cougars took the Tigers (10-3 CVC, 17-5 overall) to five sets before losing when the teams met in Taft in the first round of conference play.

"All of our sophomores played well tonight," Bandy said after the match concluded with the team's traditional Hawaiian candy leis and flowers for those who are ending their TC volleyball careers.

It's always a bittersweet celebration for Bandy, the former Kanoe Pearl from Hawaii who played volleyball and softball at TC before returning to coach, teach and serve as athletic director since 1994.

The players also showered their coach with floral affection.

As the players were introduced, the freshmen presented bouquets to the sophomores.

The scores were 25-20, 25-12, 25-11.

Set one was close in the early going before the Cougars took control of the match.  They steadily pulled away but had a hiccup while leading 21-11 when the Blue Devils went on a 7-1 run to get within four before TC finished it with a laser kill from Wong.

The Cougars breezed in the second set after getting off to a 4-0 jump and never looking back.

Merced jumped out to a 3-0 lead to open the third set before the Cougars edged ahead and then put some distance with a 6-0 run that made it 12-4.  TC's biggest lead was 22-9.

Sophomore outside hitter Maeleen Hopeau had 12 kills, Sweet Viamoui added six, Nalani Kekuawela five and Baillee Jensen one.

Defensively, freshman libero Halle Neher led the way with 14 digs followed by Kamalani Kahele with 11, Kaylynn Palama with nine, Tara Kelley seven, Wong with five and Hopeau three.

Hopeau had a solid night at the net with seven blocked shots.  Palama had three, Wong two and Jensen and Kekuawela one each.

Serving was another strong element for the Cougars.

"Kay and Nalani served really well tonight," Bandy said.

Palama, who had 35 assists from her server position, went 17-of-17 from the service line for 11 points and two aces while Kekuawela was 20-of-21 for 16 points and three aces.

With the win the Cougars remained in a fourth place tie in the conference with College of the Sequoias, both with 7-6 records.

CVC Standings:
Fresno 13-0 (20-5)
Reedley 10-3 (17-5)
Porterville 8-5 (15-9)
Taft 7-6 (11-15)
COS 7-6 (10-8)
Merced 4-9 (8-14)
Columbia 3-10 (6-16)
W. Hills 0-13 (0-20)