Giants stay unbeaten in conference play

By Nick Giannandrea

COS Athletics

COS moved another step closer to a showdown of Central Valley Conference unbeatens following a 25-12, 25-22, 25-17 victory at Merced on Oct. 4.

The Giants (11-3 overall, 5-0 in the CVC) won their seventh straight match behind Christa Pilgrim (Mission Oak), who had a team-leading nine kills and seven digs.

State No. 3-ranked Fresno City (17-2, 5-0) also remained undefeated in CVC play following a sweep of West Hills-Coalinga on Oct. 4.

Both teams have matches at 6 p.m. on Oct. 9 - COS hosts West Hills-Lemoore while Fresno City hosts Porterville - before the Rams play in Visalia on Oct. 11. The match is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. from Porter Field House.

Against Merced (6-4, 3-3), COS, which is listed among the "Best of the Rest" schools in the latest state rankings, also received five kills apiece from Hazel Martinez (Mission Oak) and Jayda English (Lemoore). Karen Rodriguez (Kingsburg) added four kills and five digs, while Madison Sousa (Hanford West) had four kills. Gia Rozadilla (Central) contributed 18 digs, and Sydney Guinn (Exeter) had 13 assists.

COS is looking to snap a Fresno City's 12-year hold on the CVC title. The Rams haven't lost a conference match since 2011 and have only lost two CVC matches since 2007.

The Giants last won the conference title in 2006.