

It was a week of league action for Riverbank High school sports this past week, with few home games to view, and not much of a prospect for more this week.
The ups and downs of high school sports schedules came in to play last week, with only girls golf and girls volleyball appearing on the home course/court chart. And this week promised no better fare, with golf, volleyball and football all on the road.
Volleyball doesn’t return home until Oct. 1, hosting Ripon High, and golf doesn’t come back until Oct. 9, hosting Orestimba on the Escalon Golf Course. Football won’t be back on the home field until Friday, Oct. 5, when Escalon’s Cougars come to town.
Lady Bruin Golf
Last week saw the beginning of the second round of Valley-Foothill League golf action for Riverbank girls. It was a home match in Escalon, against Ripon Christian High School.
Coach Ismael Mercado said his team prevailed, 172 to 177, in what he called a “very close match.” The win left them 3-5 in league play.
“We just played the Mid-Year Tournament last Monday in Stockton, finishing fifth out of seven teams,” Mercado added. “We lost four seniors last year from our VFL south division title team. Our only returner is Vanessa Mercado. She is a senior.”
The coach noted that the team is in a rebuilding mode this year and is looking forward to making the team stronger for next year.
“We have played some competitive matches this year. With Livingston now in our division, the division has gotten much tougher,” he noted.
Livingston has replaced Mountain House in the league line up this year.
The coach is building the team with six out of seven players new to golf.
Senior Vanessa Mercado is joined by seniors Alexa Gutierrez and Chiara Pezzoli. Juniors Marisol Garcia and Brittany Guzman, along with sophomores Marlene Montoya and Sabrina Gomez round out the roster.
Lady Bruin Volleyball
Girls volleyball traveled to Livingston last Monday, Sept. 17, then hosted Hilmar last Wednesday.
Riverbank went down three sets to one to the Lady Wolves 25-15, 25-17, 28-30 and 25-15. The girls were defeated by the Lady Yellowjackets in three sets, 25-7, 25-4, and 25-5.
The Lady Bruins were set to travel to Modesto Christian High School on Sept. 26 for a 5:30 p.m. JV contest and 6:30 p.m. varsity match.
Bruin Football
Riverbank lost a Trans-Valley League football game at Ripon High, falling 74-0 to the host Indians.
This week, they travel to Hughson to face the Huskies on Friday night, Sept. 28.
Bruin Cross Country
The co-ed Cross Country teams were scheduled for their second Trans-Valley League meet on Wednesday, Sept. 26, taking on other TVL squads in Modesto.