DHS volleyball squad stays perfect in league play

Delta Valley Conference teams had better take notice, especially if the Davis High girls volleyball squad keeps playing like it did on Tuesday.

The Blue Devils swept Grant at The Cage to improve to 2-0 in DVC play (14-6 overall). The sweep was the second straight for DHS, which dispatched Franklin in three games last week. It appears that the Devils are determined to ensure that nothing comes down to a single bounce of the ball this year.

Last season, Davis went 7-3 in DVC play and finished a game behind Franklin and two behind league champion Monterey Trail. That proved costly as the conference received a low overall rating from  Sac-Joaquin Section officials and the Blue Devils ended up on the outside looking in while the Wildcats and Mustangs represented the DVC in the postseason.

The locals know this year’s bid for redemption will, in all likelihood, come down to their two matches against Monterey Trail, one of which will be played next Tuesday on the road.

However, they also know they can’t afford to turn in a sub-par effort against a less intimidating squad and lose ground to their tougher competitors.

“(We) can’t talk too much about the other team. I talk to my team mostly about doing the stuff on our side of the net, taking care of the serves, taking care of the plays on our side of the net,” said DHS head coach Julie Crawford. “I think when you spend too much time worrying about the other team — whether they’re good or not or if you beat them the year before — that’s when you don’t play your game.

“That’s when upsets happen.”

The Blue Devils never gave Grant a shot at an upset, winning 25-8, 25-7, 25-8.

In the first game, DHS sped out to an 8-0 lead behind solid play up front from Angelina Leigh and Lyndsay Chambers and some pinpoint serves from Makena Sherwood, then coasted the rest of the way.

The second and third games followed similar scripts with Adriana Defty and Maya Gilardi also getting in on the action.

The Blue Devils now look ahead to a Thursday game with Laguna Creek. The Cardinals were swept by Monterey Trail (12-7, 2-0 in DVC play) last week.

“Typically we beat (Laguna Creek), but like I said, we try not to focus on that,” Crawford said.

With a win over the Cardinals, the Devils would head into the match against the Mustangs with sole possession of first place on the line.

Crawford expects the game, which will be played in Elk Grove, to be an exciting one:

“That will probably be our most competitive match, a fun match to watch. They’re always really strong and we both have good squads this year.”

— Reach Will Bellamy at wbellamy@davisenterprise.net