In a crammed schedule of volleyball, the Tracy High Bulldogs faced a busy three weeks of five matches, including three back-to-back contests on their home court.
The Bulldogs hosted the Mountain House Knights, Manteca Buffaloes, Ripon Indians, Linden Lions, and Central Catholic Raiders. Despite the intense pace, the Bulldogs emerged victorious in three of the four matches, falling only to the Indians and Raiders.
The marathon’s action began with Tracy High facing off against the Mountain House Knights on Thursday, Aug. 29. Both teams played with energy and intensity from the start.
“It was a hard-fought game, but when I saw they could pick everything up, I knew we had to start playing smart,” outside hitter Jolie Lam said.
With a weekend of recovery, Tracy took on the Manteca Buffaloes in their second match on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The Bulldogs came out focused and determined, quickly asserting their dominance over Manteca. The Bulldogs won three straight sets in commanding fashion, securing a 3-0 sweep.
“The energy we played with was what helped us secure this win,” right-side hitter Zoe Artadi said. “The aggression and excitement that we need every game.”
The following day, the Ripon Indians proved to be the most difficult challenge for the Bulldogs. Ripon’s fast-paced offense brought difficulty to Tracy’s court as they struggled to keep up. Despite Tracy’s best efforts, Ripon outplayed them in every set, winning 3-0 and handing the Bulldogs their first loss from a four-game win streak.
“Playing three matches in a row is tough, and we knew Ripon would be a challenge. This is a learning moment for us, and we’ll come back stronger,” middle hitter Ksenia Sanchez said.
In the final match of the week, the Bulldogs faced the Linden Lions, determined to end their streak with a win. Tracy came out with renewed energy, eager to shake off the loss to Ripon.
The Bulldogs quickly found the energy needed and controlled the game from start to finish. Amplified with a supportive student section, Tracy dominated Linden and cruised to another 3-0 sweep. 
After a demanding week that saw Tracy High playing three back-to-back games, the Bulldogs hosted the Central Catholic Raiders on Monday, Sept. 9.
The Lady Bulldogs won the first set, barely getting by 25-23. However, fatigue appeared to set in, and the Raiders took control, winning the next three sets 21-25, 20-25, and 23-25.
Despite the Bulldogs’ best efforts, Central Catholic’s well-executed defense and high energy proved too much for Tracy to overcome.
“This past week has been tough on the team,” defense specialist Maddie Fry said. “Three games in a row is a lot, but we fought hard tonight. We’ll learn from this.”
With several home games ahead, the Bulldogs are looking to continue improving and are eager for another chance to face some of their toughest competitors. Fans can expect more performances as the Tracy High Bulldogs aim to make a deep run in their conference standings this year.
