GALT, CA (MPG) - The Galt Warriors volleyball program opened its season on Friday, Aug. 21, hosting Weston Ranch at Warrior Gym, where all three Galt squads came up short in their first action of the year. The freshman team fell 2-0, the junior varsity dropped its match 2-0 and varsity was swept 3-0.

Junior Zoey Sanchez led the varsity effort at the net, hammering 10 kills in three sets – better than half the team’s total of 19 – while hitting .217 on 23 attempts: the only Warrior to finish above the team’s .000 mark. Sanchez also converted 43.5% of her swings into kills and stayed busy in the back row with 13 digs and 13 serve receptions.

Senior Maliah Mangal anchored the defense with a team-high-matching 13 digs and led the Warriors with 18 serve receptions without an error. Mangal also distributed six assists and accounted for both of Galt’s service aces on the night, converting nearly 29% of her serve opportunities into points.

Sophomore Emma McDonald ran the offense efficiently, dishing a team-high seven assists while posting the most reliable serving line on the roster at 88.9%, adding four digs and four service points. Senior Morgan Jones chipped in three kills at a .083 clip and shared a block, while junior Adelle Werdon contributed two kills, 14 serve receptions and a block assist.

Freshman Hattie Shillam earned all three sets of varsity playing time in the opener, finishing with two kills on 15 swings and a share of a block.

As a team, Galt managed 19 kills against 25 attack errors for a minus-.067 hitting percentage, but the Warriors’ floor defense held up with 42 digs and no digging errors. Galt also served at 77.1% and combined for four block assists, credited as two total blocks.

Despite the opening-night sweep, there is plenty of optimism inside the program. Longtime JV coach Mikka Alvarez said she is looking forward to watching her group develop over the coming weeks.

“The start of the season is always something to look forward to,” Alvarez said. “This year we welcome three new athletes to the program at the JV level. The other nine played here last season. With only a couple weeks until the start of league play, we’re looking hard at practice and through our preseason schedule. I’m excited to see their continued progress and growth as a team.”

That preseason run is short. The Warriors begin league play Wednesday, Sept. 3 on the road at Union Mine, and the schedule tightens quickly from there with matches roughly every three to five days through the middle of October. 

Galt’s home slate includes visits from Rosemont, Venture Academy, El Dorado, Argonaut, Liberty Ranch, Union Mine, Bradshaw Christian and Amador, while road trips take the Warriors to Union Mine, Bradshaw Christian, Amador, El Dorado, Liberty Ranch and Argonaut.

The regular season wraps with a road-heavy finish, closing Oct. 14 at Liberty Ranch and Oct. 15 at Argonaut.