Winless in 2022, Central Valley’s girls volleyball team compiled a 1-22 overall record and finished in seventh place in the ultra-competitive Central California Conference with an 0-12 mark this fall.

“There’s nothing to be mad about,” said Courtney Dayoff, first-year head coach of the Hawks. “The girls left it all on the court. They improved from the beginning of the season until the end of the season. It makes me excited for next year. We can only go up from where we’re at right now.”

Central Valley closed out the 2023 season with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-12, 25-11) loss at second-place Atwater on Oct. 18.

The Hawks challenged the Falcons in the first set.

“We matched their intensity and made it competitive,” Dayoff said. “Some little errors got the best of us.”

Yaneli Ramos led Central Valley with nine assists, six digs, five aces and one kill.

Jannet Valencia had six kills, three assists and one block.

Marion Dennison had four aces, four digs and three kills.

Jessica Ramos had four digs and two aces.

Jayden Corona had three digs.

Llarely Gutierrez had two digs.

Natalie Acosta had one dig.

Amerie De La Torre and Jocelyn Munoz both had one kill.

Central Valley lost 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-12 to fourth-place Golden Valley on Senior Night in Ceres on Oct. 16.

“They did a great job even though we didn’t get the win,” Dayoff said. 

Hawk upperclassmen Acosta, De La Torre, Gutierrez, Munoz, Valencia, Jessica Ramos, Yaneli Ramos, Daniela Rodriguez and Briann Tavares were recognized prior to the start of their final home match.

Yaneli Ramos led Central Valley with seven assists, six digs, and two aces.

Valencia had six digs, two kills, two assists and one ace.

Jessica Ramos had four digs and one kills, 

Acosta and De La Torre each had three digs and one kill.

Dennison had three kills.

Munoz had two kills, one block and one dig.

Corona had two digs.

Gutierrez had one dig.

Central Valley collected its lone win of the season versus Delhi on Aug. 31.

The Hawks prevailed, 3-2, on the road.

Central Valley played a total of 24 matches this year.

“I’m happy with the season,” Dayoff said. “Overall, they did well. Their stats got better. Their errors decreased. The best part was to see them grow as individuals and become a team. They became a family.”

Hawk players were offered pizza parties and doughnuts if they showed improvement during the course of the season.

“I motivated them with bribery,” Dayoff joked. “I gave them positive incentives.”

Central Valley will lose nine players to graduation, including Acosta, De La Torre, Gutierrez, Munoz, Rodriguez, Tavares, Valencia, Jessica Ramos and Yaneli Ramos.

Acosta, Gutierrez, Valencia, Jessica Ramos and Yaneli Ramos started.

“Those girls will be missed,” Dayoff said. “They were very positive and friendly with the underclassmen.”

“The girls that are coming back next year are excited to see what happens,” she added.

The Hawks will face different competition next fall.

Central Valley will move from the CCC to the Western Athletic Conference as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s league realignment plan.

The Hawks placed last in the CCC standings four out of the last five years.

Central Valley won a combined 11 matches from 2018-22. “Playing in the CCC, we’ve seen higher competition,” Dayoff said. “It makes me excited for next year. My optimism is strong. We’re going to be more competitive.”